Acts 14:8-13: a reflection

8At Lystra a certain man sat, impotent in his feet, a cripple from his mother’s womb, who never had walked. 9He was listening to Paul speaking, who, fastening eyes on him and seeing that he had faith to be made whole, 10said with a loud voice, “Stand upright on your feet!” He leaped up and walked. 11When the multitude saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voice, saying in the language of Lycaonia, “The gods have come down to us in the likeness of men!” 12They called Barnabas “Jupiter”, and Paul “Mercury”, because he was the chief speaker. 13The priest of Jupiter, whose temple was in front of their city, brought oxen and garlands to the gates, and would have made a sacrifice along with the multitudes.

When Paul heals a man at Lystra who had never walked, the crowd is amazed and concludes that the gods have come down in human form; they call Paul and Barnabas by the names of their gods and prepare to offer sacrifice to them. The people were ready to give to the messengers the worship and glory that belonged only to God. Paul and Barnabas, seeing it, would have none of it, for the honor the crowd sought to give them was God's alone; the power that healed was not their own but God's, and the glory belonged to him. They refused to take for themselves the honor that was God's.

Notice the temptation Paul and Barnabas faced, and refused: to accept the glory that belonged to God. The crowd wanted to honor them as gods, to give them worship and sacrifice; it would have been easy to accept the acclaim, to bask in the honor. But the healing was God's work, not theirs; the glory belonged to God, and they would not take for themselves what was his. They deflected the honor to God, refusing to accept worship that belonged to him alone. The temptation to take credit and glory that are really God's is real; Paul and Barnabas refused it, directing the honor to the God to whom it belonged.

That is worth taking to heart, for we too must deflect to God the honor and glory that belong to him, not taking them for ourselves. When good is done through us, when we are praised and honored, there is a temptation to take the credit and glory for ourselves, to accept honor that really belongs to God, whose work it was, as the crowd would have honored Paul and Barnabas. But the glory belongs to God; we are to deflect it to him, not keep it for ourselves. Do not take for yourself the honor and glory that belong to God when good is done through you; deflect it to him, as Paul and Barnabas refused the crowd's worship. Deflect to God the honor and glory that belong to him when good is done through you, rather than taking the credit for yourself, as Paul and Barnabas refused to accept the worship the crowd would have given them; for the glory belongs to God, whose work it is, and we are to direct the honor to him rather than keeping for ourselves what is his alone.

Lord, when Paul heals a man at Lystra who had never walked, the crowd is amazed and concludes that the gods have come down in human form; they call Paul and Barnabas by the names of their gods and prepare to offer sacrifice to them. The people were ready to give to the messengers the worship and glory that belonged only to you. Paul and Barnabas, seeing it, would have none of it, for the honor the crowd sought to give them was yours alone; the power that healed was not their own but yours. They refused to take for themselves the honor that was yours. Show me the temptation Paul and Barnabas faced, and refused: to accept the glory that belonged to you. The crowd wanted to honor them as gods; it would have been easy to accept the acclaim, to bask in the honor. But the healing was your work, not theirs; the glory belonged to you, and they would not take for themselves what was yours. They deflected the honor to you. The temptation to take credit and glory that are really yours is real; they refused it. Take that to my heart, for I too must deflect to you the honor and glory that belong to you, not taking them for myself. When good is done through me, when I am praised and honored, there is a temptation to take the credit and glory for myself, to accept honor that really belongs to you, whose work it was. But the glory belongs to you. Keep me from taking for myself the honor and glory that belong to you when good is done through me; help me deflect it to you, Lord, as Paul and Barnabas refused the crowd's worship.