A Daily Devotion for Thursday, July 23

Acts 14:8-20

In Lystra there sat a man who was lame. He had been that way from birth and had never walked. He listened to Paul as he was speaking. Paul looked directly at him, saw that he had faith to be healed and called out, “Stand up on your feet!” At that, the man jumped up and began to walk.

When the crowd saw what Paul had done, they shouted in the Lycaonian language, “The gods have come down to us in human form!” Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul they called Hermes because he was the chief speaker. The priest of Zeus, whose temple was just outside the city, brought bulls and wreaths to the city gates because he and the crowd wanted to offer sacrifices to them.

But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard of this, they tore their clothes and rushed out into the crowd, shouting: “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. In the past, he let all nations go their own way. 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.” Even with these words, they had difficulty keeping the crowd from sacrificing to them.

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. 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.

Reading some context and commentary this morning, I am once again realizing how little of the history of the church I actually know. In this account, Paul and Barnabus are mistaken for pagan gods after they help a lame man to walk again through the power of God’s Holy Spirit. The crowd begins to bring sacrifices to them, and to call them Hermes and Zeus! Paul and Barnabas are horrified, and try to set them straight. Later, Jewish leaders have them stoned and Paul is left for dead outside of the city gate. What kind of faith is this? Paul could choose to be worshipped as a pagan god, or continue on his life-threatening mission. He of course chooses to follow the one true God. But was this an easy decision? Did he have second thoughts or doubts? We can’t know, but we can see Paul’s choices. Sometimes we need to just do the right thing, no matter the consequences.

Holy Lord, you have not given me a mission like Paul’s. But you have put me on this earth for a purpose. May I never lose faith, and always move forward, toward you, according to your will. Amen

Becky, transforming