Acts 14

In Lystra there sat a man who was lame. He had been that way from birth and had never walked. He listened to Paul as he was speaking. Paul looked directly at him, saw that he had faith to be healed and called out, “Stand up on your feet!” At that, the man jumped up and began to walk. When the crowd saw what Paul had done, they shouted in the Lycaonian language, “The gods have come down to us in human form!” Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul they called Hermes because he was the chief speaker. The priest of Zeus, whose temple was just outside the city, brought bulls and wreaths to the city gates because he and the crowd wanted to offer sacrifices to them. But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard of this, they tore their clothes and rushed out into the crowd, shouting: “Friends, why are you doing this? We too are only human, like you. We are bringing you good news, telling you to turn from these worthless things to the living God, who made the heavens and the earth and the sea and everything in them. In the past, he let all nations go their own way. Yet he has not left himself without testimony: He has shown kindness by giving you rain from heaven and crops in their seasons; he provides you with plenty of food and fills your hearts with joy.” Even with these words, they had difficulty keeping the crowd from sacrificing to them. ‭‭Acts‬ ‭14‬:‭8‬-‭18‬ ‭NIV‬‬

God worked many amazing miracles through Paul.  After the healing of this lame man, the people were so amazed that they started to worship Paul and Barnabas as gods.  It may have been quite fun and very profitable for Paul and Barnabas to accept the praise, adoration, respect, and generous gifts from the crowd.  However, they knew that their purpose was much deeper and more important than gaining recognition and wealth for things that God had done through them.  They fully understood that their power to do miracles and other good deeds in this world came from God, “for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill His good purpose” (Philippians 2:13).  We should always remember to point people towards God whenever we have the opportunity.  If someone thanks you or praises you for a job well done, give God all the glory!  Be thankful that you were given the ability to do it, but also seize the chance to open up a conversation about what God has done in your life.