Unstoppable! 'Opportunity for Fame and Compromise' — Acts 14:8-13

Friday, August 2, 2024

While they were at Lystra, Paul and Barnabas came upon a man with crippled feet. He had been that way from birth, so he had never walked. He was sitting and listening as Paul preached. Looking straight at him, Paul realized he had faith to be healed. So Paul called to him in a loud voice, "Stand up!" And the man jumped to his feet and started walking.

When the crowd saw what Paul had done, they shouted in their local dialect, "These men are gods in human form!" They decided that Barnabas was the Greek god Zeus and that Paul was Hermes, since he was the chief speaker. Now the temple of Zeus was located just outside the town. So the priest of the temple and the crowd brought bulls and wreaths of flowers to the town gates, and they prepared to offer sacrifices to the apostles.

— Acts 14:8-13 NLT

Key Thought

When Paul healed a man who had been lame since his birth, the crowds were amazed. Because of the fame of the local temple of Zeus, the appreciative crowd suddenly confronted the mission team with two temptations that could have interfered with the message of Jesus:

  1. Paul and Barnabas could have collected fame and appreciation for themselves.
  2. They might have lost sight of their source of power for the miracles they performed.

These temptations for God's messengers are real today, also. Adulation and praise can distort and corrupt the pure desire that almost any messenger of Christ has to share Jesus. Satan can tempt any of us to become proud, but the focus needs to remain on Jesus and his sacrificial love for us. Would I so carefully deflect the attention of the crowd from me to the Lord as Paul and Barnabas did on this occasion (Acts 14:14-15)?

Today's Prayer

O Father, I confess that I want to be liked and have my efforts appreciated. Please gently humbly me and conform me through the Holy Spirit to be like Jesus. May my life point others to Jesus and not to myself. May my glory always be in Jesus, in whose name I pray. Amen.

Related Scripture Readings

  • Proverbs 8:13, 11:2, 16:18-20, 21:24, 29:23
  • Isaiah 2:11, 17; Mark 7:20-23

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Illustration

Illustration of Acts 14:8-13 NLT — While they were at Lystra, Paul and Barnabas came upon a man with crippled feet. He had been that way from birth, so he had never walked. He was sitting and listening as Paul preached. Looking straight at him, Paul realized he had faith to be healed. So Paul called to him in a loud voice, "Stand up!" And the man jumped to his feet and started walking. When the crowd saw what Paul had done, they shouted in their local dialect, "These men are gods in human form!" They decided that Barnabas was the Greek god Zeus and that Paul was Hermes, since he was the chief speaker. Now the temple of Zeus was located just outside the town. So the priest of the temple and the crowd brought bulls and wreaths of flowers to the town gates, and they prepared to offer sacrifices to the apostles.

About This Devotional

Unstoppable! is a one-year devotional guide through the book of Acts. Each devotional consists of a scripture passage, a reflection and a prayer. The reflection opens up the day's scripture and shows how it challenges one to live for Jesus.

Unstoppable! is written by Phil Ware.

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

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