Acts Chapter 14
Iconium – Steadfastness in Service
How would you feel if, as you are cleaning the house, your family members come in and create a mess where you had moments ago just arduously cleaned, and go off without saying a word? We may probably feel frustrated, annoyed, and even angry, especially if this happens repeatedly.
This is kind of the situation that Paul and Barnabas were in. As they preached to the Jews and the Greeks, there was a number of unbelieving Jews who poisoned their minds against Paul and Barnabas. Yet despite these difficulties, Paul and Barnabas remained steadfast in performing their duty. They preached boldly despite the adversity, only leaving the city when their lives were at stake.
Are we too quick to give up on our service these days, just because we face adversity in our service?
Lystra – Humility in Service
In Lystra, Paul and Barnabas encountered a cripple from birth, whom Paul saw had faith to be made well. Paul spoke to this cripple and healed him. Just like that, the man who had been crippled from birth, was healed in an instant. When the crowds saw this, they wanted to worship Paul and Barnabas.
Paul and Barnabas desperately tried to stop them, and scarcely were able to restrain the crowd. Despite the crowds they drew to themselves and the signs and wonders they performed (see 14:3), Paul and Barnabas remained humble and reverent to God. They deeply knew that the power to heal came not from themselves, but from God. Paul especially would have felt this keenly since he himself suffered from the thorn in the flesh. While he was able to cure others, he could not help himself.
God puts certain things in our lives to mold and humble us. While we may find it painful, let us have faith that it is in God’s infinite wisdom and love that He has arranged these things in our lives.
Let us also not be puffed up in our successes. There is always a temptation for us to think that the successes in our work are due to our efforts and while that may be true to a certain extent, everything that we have (our talents, ability, opportunity) in the first place comes from God. The puffed up heart listens little, judges much, and will fall in the end.
