Flip-Flop
Why do you do what you do? For whose approval or praise or applause do you seek to follow God, or seek to serve others? I am asking myself these questions this morning because this area of scripture begs an answer and here's why...if i am who i am and doing what i'm doing for anyone other than God Himself, it is a foolish investment on many levels! One reason why is that the heart and affections of man are so easily changed! Have you ever noticed how quickly a movie star, or rock star, or super star athlete can go from from "superstar status" in one moment to a forgotten name the next? Truly, the heart and affections of man (even Christians) can change! That is one reason why we need to check our motives and make sure that we are doing what we are doing and being who we are being for God Himself! Only His thoughts towards us are constant, unconditional and unchanging! On the other hand, man's opinions and affections are fickle, far too conditional and forever changing. All of us have learned this the hard way, no doubt!
That's what we see happening here in Acts 14...the apostle Paul and Barnabas are used by the Lord to heal a lame man before a multitude of on-lookers! And, where this kind of mighty miracle of God had produced faith in the hearts of people in some other places...the response of the people here in Lystra is almost comical. The people raise their voices saying, "The gods have come down to us in the likeness of men!" Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul Hermes! Amazingly, the people make gods out of Paul and Barnabas!
Do Paul and Barnabas receive the praise? No, they humbly they tear their clothes and run among the people shouting, "Why are you doing this? We are men just like you! Repent from these things and turn to God, the One True and Living God..."
But, even as they tried to turn the people's focus towards the Lord, the people couldn't restrain themselves from sacrificing to them!
What a picture! What a frustrating moment for Paul and Barnabas! What a test of their faith! And, what a wrong response from the people! But, does it last?
V. 19 says that some Jews came to Lystra and persuaded the multitudes to stone Paul and drag him out of the city! What? One moment Paul and Barnabas were gods, and the very next they are criminals worthy of death! The way that the people turned on P and B is truly astonishing! Emotional and superficial praise can quickly turn to emotional and superficial rejection! The praise of man simply doesn't last!
So, the point of this story...don't seek or take to heart the praise of man! Make sure that i am doing what i'm doing and being who i'm being for God alone! As much as the praise of man may come one moment, the rejection of man may come the next! Only God is worthy of our lives, not man! I love this about our God! His acceptance and affections for us are unconditional and unmerited...therefore, since i did nothing to earn them, i can do nothing for God to withhold them! Only God is this way! So, only He is worthy of that place in my life!
So, Father, help me not to be affected by man's thoughts or response on either side! When the praise comes, help me to deflect it back to You! But, when the rejection and disapproval comes, help me also to not let it define me. Let me be defined by Your Word and Your thoughts towards me...
Created over 2 years ago
