Read Acts
14:14-20
14 But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard
of this, they tore their clothes and rushed out into the crowd, shouting: 15
“Friends, why are you doing this? We too are only human, like you. We are
bringing you good news, telling you to turn from these worthless things to the
living God, who made the heavens and the earth and the sea and everything in
them. 16 In the past, he let all nations go their own way. 17 Yet he has not
left himself without testimony: He has shown kindness by giving you rain from
heaven and crops in their seasons; he provides you with plenty of food and
fills your hearts with joy.” 18 Even with these words, they had difficulty
keeping the crowd from sacrificing to them. 19 Then some Jews came from Antioch
and Iconium and won the crowd over. They stoned Paul and dragged him outside
the city, thinking he was dead. 20 But after the disciples had gathered around
him, he got up and went back into the city. The next day he and Barnabas left
for Derbe.
There is a sharp contrast between Paul and
Barnabas’ dismay at being mistaken for gods and Herod’s warm reception of it –
and subsequent demise – in Acts 12. It is, at first glance, difficult to think
of an immediate application: “The last time you were mistaken for a god, how
did you respond?” does not quite fit! It does, however, bring up the wider
issue of how quick we are – or not – to redirect praise back to God. Now I’m
not suggesting that every time someone compliments us we need to break down
everything that God did and include this within our response. However, there
may be times when it is appropriate to refer the complimentor (not technically
a word!) to the work God has done.
For example, I remember a number of years ago a
couple of girls I was playing hockey with commented on certain aspects of my
lifestyle and character that they noted were different from their own. They
even said something along the lines of, “I wish I was more…like you.” At this
point I wanted to scream out: “I’m not like this naturally, I’m really not! But
God has done great things in my life!!!” (Or something to that effect). However
I didn’t. On this occasion my motivation was not so much, “I want them to think
I could achieve this unaided!” as “they will think I’m weird if
I tell them God has changed me.” At root though, the underlying issue was the
same; it was pride – albeit expressing itself as fear rather than arrogance.
Further, it is important that we remind ourselves
daily of the amazing things God has done for us; and how reliant we are on him
for everything! He is our creator, our sustainer and the one who changes us –
remaking us from the inside out. Every good thing we have and do comes from
him. Let us endeavour to keep this at the fore front of our hearts and minds at
all times.
➡ What has God done this
week that you are grateful for?
➡ Do you reflect often
on how much God has given us?
➡ How can we help one
another to grow in our appreciation of God, his love for us and the great
things he has done?
If you have a bit longer :-)
John Stott notes the differences between Paul’s
speech here – to pagan non-Jews – and his earlier speech in the Synagogue
(13:16-37). On this he writes:
We need to learn from Paul’s flexibility. We have
no liberty to edit the good news of Jesus Christ. Nor is there ever any need to
do so. But we have to begin where people are, to find a point of contact with
them. With secularized people today this might be what constitutes authentic
humanness, the universal quest for transendence, the hunger for love and
community, the search for freedom, or the longing for personal significance.
Wherever we begin, however, we will end with Jesus Christ, who alone is the
good news, and who alone can fulfil all human aspirations.[1] (Any thoughts?!)
If you have a longer still ;-)
Read the following Psalm and spend some time
reflecting and meditating on it. For what things in particular do you find
yourself praising God?
1 I will exalt you, my God the King;
I will praise your name for ever and ever.
2 Every day I will praise you
and extol your name for ever and ever.
3 Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise;
his greatness no one can fathom.
4 One generation commends your works to another;
they tell of your mighty acts.
5 They speak of the glorious splendor of your
majesty—
and I will meditate on your wonderful works.
6 They tell of the power of your awesome works—
and I will proclaim your great deeds.
7 They celebrate your abundant goodness
and joyfully sing of your righteousness.
8 The Lord is gracious and compassionate,
slow to anger and rich in love.
9 The Lord is good to all;
he has compassion on all he has made.
10 All your works praise you, Lord;
your faithful people extol you.
11 They tell of the glory of your kingdom
and speak of your might,
12 so that all people may know of your mighty
acts
and the glorious splendor of your kingdom.
13 Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,
and your dominion endures through all
generations.
The Lord is trustworthy in all he promises
and faithful in all he does.
14 The Lord upholds all who fall
and lifts up all who are bowed down.
15 The eyes of all look to you,
and you give them their food at the proper time.
16 You open your hand
and satisfy the desires of every living thing.
17 The Lord is righteous in all his ways
and faithful in all he does.
18 The Lord is near to all who call on him,
to all who call on him in truth.
19 He fulfills the desires of those who fear
him;
he hears their cry and saves them.
20 The Lord watches over all who love him,
but all the wicked he will destroy.
21 My mouth will speak in praise of the Lord.
Let every creature praise his holy name
for ever and ever. (Psalm 145)
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