Keeping the Glory Where It Belongs

Wednesday night REfresh Bible study at my church is a welcome reprieve in the middle of a busy week.  It centers me.  This Wednesday night was no exception.  We were all reminded to keep the glory of God where it truly belongs.

Acts 14: 8-18 finds us in Lystra with Paul and Barnabas.  Paul is doing what he has been called to do.  He is preaching the word of God.  As he preaches, he notices a man in the crowd that has been crippled from birth.  Paul sees that the man has faith to be healed.  Paul tells the man to stand up straight on his feet.  The man does not just stand.  He leaps and walks.  His faith has made him whole.  The perfect example of faith coming by hearing.  The man’s faith created the atmosphere for a miracle to happen.

You can imagine the reaction of the crowd.  I am sure many of them have known this man for a long time.  They are intimately aware of his condition.  They have seen him struggling and making do on a day to day basis.  And now, right in front of their very eyes, is a walking and leaping miracle.  Although they heard the same word, they do not have the same conviction.  They live in a world that is dominated by Greek gods.  So, they declare that Paul and Barnabas must be the Greek gods Zeus and Hermes walking around in human form.  In that moment, they have misdirected their praise.

The towns people are not just offering lip service.  They begin to bring sacrifices to the gate.  Paul and Barnabas are understandably distraught.  They have spent all this time teaching and preaching.  And the people do not understand.  The glory does not belong to Paul, Barnabas, Zeus, or Hermes.  The glory belongs to God.  Paul did not heal the man.  The Holy Spirit tapped into the man’s faith and made him whole.  Instead of being puffed up and getting swept along in the frenzy of the crowd, Paul and Barnabas operate in the spirit of humility.  They continue to point the crowd to the one true God.

Here lately I have felt a pressing and the urge to pour out everything that God placed in me.  I want to leave this earth empty.  I want God to use everything that He placed in me.  I want His purpose to be fulfilled.  My life should bring glory to His name.  The sermon continued a message that has come to my ears often.  We have purpose.  I hope that we can all remember to give God glory in every aspect of our lives.  Let’s keep the glory where it belongs.  #wepreach