Mistaken for gods, Faithful to God
- Baptist Daily Devotional
- Aug 4
- 2 min read
Rev Tetteh-Annor Larbi | August 4 2025 | Acts 14:8-14
KEY VERSE: “When the crowd saw what Paul had done, they shouted in the Lycaonian language, ‘The gods have come down to us in human form!” Acts 14:11 (NIV)
MESSAGE:
After Paul healed a crippled man in Lystra, the crowd was so astonished that they cried out, calling Paul and Barnabas gods. They tried to offer sacrifices to them, thinking they were Zeus and Hermes (Greek gods) in human form. In that moment, Paul and Barnabas were suddenly elevated and adored by people who had no understanding of the true God. It would have been tempting to bask in that glory, but instead, they tore their clothes in grief and pointed everyone to the living God.
This encounter highlights how easily people misplace their awe and admiration. Paul and Barnabas refused to let the crowd idolise them. They stayed faithful to their mission—declaring the truth about the one true God, not accepting glory that didn’t belong to them. Their humility stands in contrast to the human tendency to crave recognition. It's a powerful reminder that even when people praise us for what God has done through us, we must redirect that praise back to Him.
Being used by God doesn’t make us the source of the miracle—it makes us vessels. Paul and Barnabas understood their role: not to absorb worship but to reflect it upward. When God works through you—whether through gifts, talents, or acts of kindness—stay faithful. Let your life, like theirs, point others beyond yourself and toward the Saviour.
FEET AND HANDS FOR THE MESSAGE:
When tempted to receive praise that only God should get, remember you are not the Object of worship. When people throw on you what belongs to God, point them to the One who deserves all the Praise-GOD.
PRAYER:
Lord, keep my heart humble when others praise me. Help me always point back to You and stay faithful, remembering that every good work comes from Your hand. Let my life be a clear reflection of Your glory, not my own. For Your dear name’s sake. Amen.
THERE SHALL BE SHOWERS OF BLESSING.
SHOWERS! BLESSINGS!!
The 365 DAILY BIBLE READING Day 216: 2 Kings 5–8 — Naaman Healed, Famine in Samaria
DAILY word study: GODS The word gods in Acts 14:11 comes from the Greek theoi, meaning divine beings or deities. In the Greco-Roman world, people believed in many gods who could visit earth in human form.
When Paul healed the man, the people of Lystra didn’t turn to the true God. They shouted, “The gods have come down to us!” and tried to treat Paul and Barnabas as divine.
Their thinking was shaped by their past beliefs, not by the truth of the Gospel. Even miracles can be misunderstood when hearts are not trained to see God.
Reflect on this:
Do people see God when something powerful happens through you? Or are they tempted to focus on you instead? Your response can either point them higher—or keep the attention too low.
Comments