“Men, why are you doing these things? We too are only men of the same nature as you, bringing the good news to you, so that you turn from these useless and meaningless things to the living God, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and everything that is in them.” – Acts 14:15 (AMP)
Human worship is one of the evils of this End Time. Jesus was tempted by the devil with this as well, that He should bow down to worship the devil in order to have the kingdoms of the earth belong to Him but Jesus reiterated that the only One to be worshipped is God (Matthew 4:8-10). No matter how it is packaged, God will never be pleased with anyone who chooses to worship men or allows men to worship him.
In Acts 14:8-18, Paul and Barnabas encountered a people who were idolatrous in nature. God used them both to do a miracle that healed a man who had never walked and this miracle happened while Paul was teaching the word. Possibly, this people have never experienced something like this before and they were really astonished by what happened. Their amazement made them see Paul and Barnabas as gods who came in the likeness of men.
The people were already prepared to sacrifice animals to them like they would do to any gods of the land but Paul and Barnabas tore their clothes which was the first response to blasphemy among the Jews and then they explained how the miracle came to be and why it is wrong to call them gods and sacrifice to them. It was a difficult thing to do but it was possible because these were men who knew that all glory belongs to God for whatever He does through them. They were God’s representatives and they forbade the people from using them to replace God.
As disciples of Christ and ministers of His great power which brings healing and deliverance to the people, you must know that you are not God just because He does great things through you. Whatever the Lord does through you is to further strengthen you to represent Him before the people He has sent you to. When this people see the great things the Lord does through you, they might be tempted to turn you into a god and see you as their all in all but never fall for it.
You must perceive idolatry in the hearts of those you are ministering and the kind of honour and offerings they give you that hints you to know what’s in their hearts. If you are not vocal and bold about letting God take all the glory for what He does through you, men can subtly worship you like a god. Be like Paul and Barnabas who turned the people’s attention to God and not themselves. This is how to represent God well even when the people think otherwise.
Reflections: If I were Paul or Barnabas, would I have refrained the people from worshipping me? Who do I make myself to be in front of the people?
Confession: I am an ambassador of Christ and I refuse every attempt men make to worship me. I return their attention to God at every opportunity I get. The Lord works through me to show His great power to the people and for all men to know that He’s God and there is none like Him.
Related Scripture: Acts 14:8-18
Bible Reading: Genesis 21
