Key
Church Principle: HUMILITY
Acts
Chapter 14:7-28
Have you ever thought you could never
serve God because of your own limitations and failures? After seeing the
miracle of healing a lame man, the people began to call Paul and Barnabas gods!
In the midst of an almost laughable
situation in Lystra, Paul says something verse profound and serious in verse
15. “We are men with the same nature as you.” Isn’t it
reassuring that Paul and Barnabas were human beings just like us, with the same
sinful nature? It doesn’t take long to see that Peter, Paul, even kind-hearted
Barnabas have feet of clay.
If you could
meet them, they probably wouldn’t impress you that much and Paul even admits
that is what people said about him. In 2 Corinthians 10:10, Paul wrote: “For
some say, ‘Don’t worry about Paul. His letters are demanding and forceful, but
in person he is weak, and his speeches are really bad!’”
The person God
uses is the person who uses God through his or her own short-fallings. Don’t be
discouraged, even if you are the source of divisions and you find yourself
being a bad example. Seek God’s forgiveness and realize that “We must through
many tribulations enter the kingdom of God” (Acts 14:22).
Use this
passage to also remind yourself that no matter how greatly God uses you, be
sure to give all glory back to Him. If you’ve ever had the opportunity to lead
someone to salvation, don’t catch yourself saying or thinking, “I saved
someone.”
God is the One
who saves and merely uses you as His instrument. It is better to say “God saved
someone through me.” If someone says you did a great job on teaching or singing
or ministry, don’t let it go to your head! Praise God that He used you!
The Bible says
Humble yourselves in the sight of the
Lord, and He will lift you up. (James 4:10), but also the opposite of
that is true. Pride goes before
destruction, And a haughty spirit before a fall. (Proverbs 16:18) Just
as Jesus was hailed as coming in the name of the Lord less than a week before
He was crucified, so Paul was hailed as god, shortly before he was nearly
stoned to death.
Last note: Read verses 22-27.
It may be God’s will that you will be used by Him in strengthening the faith of
those who are already believers. That too is a ministry and should not be
undervalued!
