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. Then some Jews came from Antioch and Iconium and won the crowd over. They stoned Paul and dragged him outside the city, thinking he was dead. But after the disciples had gathered around him, he got up and went back into the city. The next day he and Barnabas left for Derbe.

Imagine with me an unknown group of men entering a city. They liked to cook food. They had a portable kitchen, and a lot of money to buy whatever food they needed.

They dedicated themselves to cooking great meals and everyone in the town appreciated them. At one of the meals, there was a young woman who would break out in all kinds of rashes and even had trouble breathing because of the allergic reactions she had to the food of the area. She was so skinny, and had no energy to work each day, because she ate so little.

However, when she smelled the wonderful food of these foreigners, she tried some. To her surprise, not only did it taste good but it gave her energy. She was not allergic to their food! Miraculously, the food she ate with them also healed her from the inside out, and she was able to eat anything she wanted going forward.

These men had a master, but the master was not with them. The master gave them special ingredients — spices and mixtures of oils and the like — it was these ingredients that made the food taste so good and that also had healing power.

Now the people of the city were amazed at the healing of this woman, and they wanted to thank and honor the men that came. They thought they were like their gods, their food was so amazing and it not only tasted good, it healed too! So they worshiped these cooks and tried to give them all kinds of property to win their favor.

But the men knew that they had very little to do with the quality and healing properties of the food. Their master had taught them how to cook and provided the special ingredients too. So they told the people about their master who was good, and begged the people to stop worshiping them.

This is similar to what happened here with Paul and Barnabas. They were sent out by Jesus and he had given them power to speak the truth, to heal, and to save. This was not a power they generated on their own. It only came from Jesus. So when they healed this man that was lame from birth, they had to give the glory to Jesus.

Strangely enough, if they would have kept the glory for themselves, they may have had much more success with these people. They may have been viewed as gods, and been able to defeat the Jews who were stirring up mischief for them.

Instead, they gave the credit to Jesus. They demonstrated HUMBLE POWER. And in doing so, they put their own lives at risk. Speaking the truth can be risky, especially to people who are used to believing lies. The Jews who came to stir up trouble understood the language of this world. So they spoke to the people of the city in the language they understood — lies — and turned the people against Paul and Barnabas.

As a reward for healing this man and preaching the truth to the people of the city, Paul was stoned and left for dead. Earthly rewards are not always fair, and do not always do justice to the actions of the kind and loving. Many times, they penalize and try to destroy those who preach the truth and do good works.

If I am looking for the people of this world, who live under the dominion of the Prince of Lies (the Devil), to validate me and my existence and “goodness”, then I will be sorely disappointed. But if I live, seeking only the approval of my master and do his bidding, then however the people of this world react, it will not really matter to me. I can be popular one day, and an alleged criminal the next, and I will always be seen in the eyes of my master as obedient and faithful.

Whose approval do I seek? Whose recognition do I desire? Do I work for the things of the world that will be destroyed at the end of the age? Or do I work for the eternal rewards that God gives to his faithful and obedient servants?

Lord, thank you for helping to fill me with power and ability to do your kingdom work. You get all the credit and all the glory! May my life be an offering that is pleasing and acceptable to you.