DON'T WAVE AT THE CROWD TOO ......!

Paul and Barnabas were disciples of Jesus, later called Apostles, those who teach and encourage men and women to trust the Lord and to be obedient to Him.  While in the city of Lystra, the two apostles called out to a man with crippled feet who immediately jumped up and began to walk.  The people were amazed and wanted to honor Paul and Barnabas by bringing bulls for sacrifice and green wreathes to hang upon their necks, calling  them Zeus and Hermes, the names of Roman gods.  Paul and Barnabas assured the people they were not gods, but men who have been given the gift of healing by the One and Only God, whose name of earth was Jesus.


Study/ "Only days after the people thought Paul and Barnabas were  gods, they stoned Paul and left him for dead.  That is human nature. Jesus understood how fickle humans can be. (John 2:24,25)  The Son of God knows all about human nature.  Jesus was discerning, and he knew the faith of some followers was superficial.   But keep your faith firm even when it isn't popular to follow Christ.


After they stoned Paul, he got back up  and went into the city to, once again, preach the Good News.  That's true commitment!  Being a disciple of Christ calls for total commitment.  As Christians, we no longer belong to ourselves but to our Lord, for whom we are called to suffer, if asked." (end study)


It is very difficult for me to relate to these apostles.  I do not have a gift of healing, although I have prayed for others' healings.  I doubt that I could bounce up and go back to the same place where I was stoned to speak to my torturers!  I hate unfairness to people, injustice, cruelty and do nothing except get mad!  It's a good thing God did not choose me as an apostle! I must learn to listen more to the Holy Spirit within me so that I might know if there is something that I can do.


It seems to me, in much of the New Testament especially in the Acts of the Apostles that the Apostles' biggest enemy was the jealousy which persisted among the Temple Jews toward Jesus' apostles and their healing power.  Jealousy can be a horrible thing for a church or community. I have seen it nearly tear apart a small, budding church.  It is heart-breaking. We must watch ourselves if that old green monster comes into our thinking, and ask God to take over...right now, please!!
If we help someone,  thank God for the idea. If we call someone; thank God for the telephone and the idea.  We must be careful to not have a "swollen" idea of our worth.


 "God isn't measuring our worth; He is only interested in revealing His worth!" (I can't give an author credit for this statement.  Sorry. I have neglected years ago to write down its author. But I like it, so will pass it on to you.)


I promise that I will be glad when someone does a better job at something than I did.  And that I  will give thanks to God for a person who is chosen for something good, and I have not been chosen. I will not be hurt if I don't win; I will be glad for the winner.  An old friend used to say, "Don't wave at the crowd too early!" Because..... It's possible that whatever you've done wasn't done right, anyway!


Counting  on you to love our Jesus and to do your best in revealing His worth.


Jo inMN