In The Word
Read: Acts 14:13-28
13 Moreover, the priest of Zeus, whose temple was just outside the city, brought oxen and garlands to the gates, and wanted to offer sacrifice with the crowds. 14 But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard about it, they tore their robes and rushed out into the crowd, crying out 15 and saying, “Men, why are you doing these things? We are also men, of the same nature as you, preaching the gospel to you, to turn from these useless things to a living God, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea, and everything that is in them. 16 In past generations He permitted all the nations to go their own ways; 17 yet He did not leave Himself without witness, in that He did good and gave you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, satisfying your hearts with food and gladness.” 18 And even by saying these things, only with difficulty did they restrain the crowds from offering sacrifices to them.
19 But Jews came from Antioch and Iconium, and having won over the crowds, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, thinking that he was dead. 20 But while the disciples stood around him, he got up and entered the city. The next day he left with Barnabas for Derbe. 21 And after they had preached the gospel to that city and had made a good number of disciples, they returned to Lystra, to Iconium, and to Antioch,22 strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying, “It is through many tribulations that we must enter the kingdom of God.” 23 When they had appointed elders for them in every church, having prayed with fasting, they entrusted them to the Lord in whom they had believed.
24 They passed through Pisidia and came into Pamphylia. 25 When they had spoken the word in Perga, they went down to Attalia. 26 From there they sailed to Antioch, where they had been entrusted to the grace of God for the work that they had accomplished. 27 When they had arrived and gathered the church together, they began to report all the things that God had done with them and how He had opened a door of faith to the Gentiles. 28 And they spent a long time with the disciples.
New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation
Walking In The Word
After Saul and Barnabas healed a crippled man in Lystra, the people of the town considered them gods. As the people prepared to offer sacrifices, Saul and Barnabas immediately corrected them. They directed the attention back to Jesus.
Saul and Barnabas had a lot going on there. Gentiles were receiving Jesus for the first time, new believers all over were heavily persecuted by the Jews. The Jews stirred up so much trouble in Lystra, they actually stoned Saul there. This was the same town that thought he was a god moments prior! Even with everything going on, Saul never lost his focus. He kept his eyes on the prize, Jesus Christ. When people tried to direct their attention to him, he directed them right back to Jesus Christ.
This world can be full of distractions for us as well. I suppose sometimes the world distracts us through persecution as well. However, in our culture, our primary distraction is entertainment: T.V., internet, social media, sports, and hobbies. These things are not all bad inherently. However, anything that consumes more of you than God becomes a god. In a world full of so many distractions, God needs more leaders who are willing to stand up and direct the world’s attention back to Him. We can do our part by bringing Christ to the public square: saying grace at restaurants, praying at events, starting Bible studies at work. We are living in a time of spiritual darkness, and the world needs us to shine our lights!