Acts 14:14-19: a reflection

14But when the apostles, Barnabas and Paul, heard of it, they tore their clothes and sprang into the multitude, crying out, 15“Men, why are you doing these things? We also are men of the same nature as you, and bring you good news, that you should turn from these vain things to the living God, who made the sky, the earth, the sea, and all that is in them; 16who in the generations gone by allowed all the nations to walk in their own ways. 17Yet he didn’t leave himself without witness, in that he did good and gave you rains from the sky and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness.” 18Even saying these things, they hardly stopped the multitudes from making a sacrifice to them. 19But some Jews from Antioch and Iconium came there, and having persuaded the multitudes, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing that he was dead.

When the crowd at Lystra tries to worship them as gods, Paul and Barnabas redirect them to the living God, and in doing so they point to how God has borne witness to himself all along. He didn't leave himself without witness, they say, in that he did good and gave you rains from the sky and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness. God had not left himself unknown even to those who did not know him; through his ordinary goodness, the rains, the harvests, the food and gladness that fill our lives, he had been bearing witness to himself all along. The good gifts of ordinary life were God's testimony to himself, a witness given even to those who had not yet known him.

Notice how God bears witness to himself through his ordinary goodness. Paul and Barnabas point not to dramatic signs but to the everyday gifts of rain and harvest, food and gladness, as God's witness to himself. Through these ordinary goodnesses, filling human lives with provision and joy, God had been testifying to his own reality and kindness all along, even to those who did not acknowledge him. The rains and fruitful seasons, the food on the table, the gladness of the heart, were not merely natural facts but God's witness, his goodness bearing testimony to himself. God does not leave himself without witness; his ordinary goodness constantly testifies to him.

That is worth taking to heart, for God bears witness to himself through the ordinary goodness that fills our lives, and we do well to recognize it. We can take the ordinary goodnesses of life, the provision, the seasons, the food and gladness, as mere natural facts, forgetting that they are God's witness to himself, his goodness testifying to him; but Paul and Barnabas point to these as God's witness. The ordinary good gifts of our lives are God's testimony, and we do well to recognize his hand in them. Do not take the ordinary goodnesses of your life as mere natural facts, forgetting they are God's witness; recognize his goodness testifying to him in the provision and gladness that fill your days. Recognize God's witness to himself in the ordinary goodness that fills your life, the provision, the seasons, the food and gladness, as Paul and Barnabas pointed to the rains and fruitful seasons as God's witness; for God does not leave himself without witness, and his ordinary goodness constantly testifies to his reality and kindness, if only we have eyes to recognize it.

Lord, when the crowd at Lystra tries to worship them as gods, Paul and Barnabas redirect them to you, the living God, and in doing so they point to how you have borne witness to yourself all along. He didn't leave himself without witness, they say, in that he did good and gave you rains from the sky and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness. You had not left yourself unknown even to those who did not know you; through your ordinary goodness, the rains, the harvests, the food and gladness that fill our lives, you had been bearing witness to yourself all along. Show me how you bear witness to yourself through your ordinary goodness. Paul and Barnabas point not to dramatic signs but to the everyday gifts of rain and harvest, food and gladness, as your witness. Through these ordinary goodnesses, filling human lives with provision and joy, you had been testifying to your own reality and kindness all along. The rains and fruitful seasons, the food on the table, the gladness of the heart, were not merely natural facts but your witness. You do not leave yourself without witness. Take that to my heart, for you bear witness to yourself through the ordinary goodness that fills my life, and I do well to recognize it. I can take the ordinary goodnesses of life, the provision, the seasons, the food and gladness, as mere natural facts, forgetting that they are your witness. Keep me from taking the ordinary goodnesses of my life as mere natural facts, forgetting they are your witness; help me recognize your goodness testifying to you, Lord, in the provision and gladness that fill my days.