Glory Thieves

July 11

(Acts 14:11-18 NIV) ““When the crowd saw what Paul had done, they shouted in the Lycaonian language, "The gods have come down to us in human form!" {12} Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul they called Hermes because he was the chief speaker. {13} 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. {14} But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard of this, they tore their clothes and rushed out into the crowd, shouting: {15} "Men, why are you doing this? We too are only men, human like you. We are bringing you good news, telling you to turn from these worthless things to the living God, who made heaven and earth and sea and everything in them. {16} In the past, he let all nations go their own way. {17} 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." {18} Even with these words, they had difficulty keeping the crowd from sacrificing to them.””

(Acts 12:21-23 NIV) ““On the appointed day Herod, wearing his royal robes, sat on his throne and delivered a public address to the people. {22} They shouted, "This is the voice of a god, not of a man." {23} Immediately, because Herod did not give praise to God, an angel of the Lord struck him down, and he was eaten by worms and died.””

At Lystra, Paul and Barnabas spoke God’s healing over a man who had never walked, and the man jumped up and began walking. The crowd went wild and began to declare that “the gods” had come down to Earth. The glory that belongs to God alone was coming to Paul and Barnabas, but they would have none of it. We should be so wise. When your ministry becomes effective some may begin to praise you. Some may even begin to idolize you. It feels good to be treated like a rock star, but don’t go there -- not even in your head. One of the worst things that can happen to Christians is for us to begin to feel like we deserve the accolades and the credit that come our way for being good people. We can begin to soak up the praise, but if we don’t pass it on to the Lord, we become glory thieves, stealing what really belongs to God. Resist the temptation to become little gods. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day

Discerning Faith

July 10

(Acts 14:8-10 NIV)  “In Lystra there sat a man crippled in his feet, who was lame from birth and had never walked. {9} He listened to Paul as he was speaking. Paul looked directly at him, saw that he had faith to be healed {10} and called out, "Stand up on your feet!" At that, the man jumped up and began to walk.”

(Acts 3:1-7 NIV) ““One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time of prayer--at three in the afternoon. {2} Now a man crippled from birth was being carried to the temple gate called Beautiful, where he was put every day to beg from those going into the temple courts. {3} When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for money. {4} Peter looked straight at him, as did John. Then Peter said, "Look at us!" {5} So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them. {6} Then Peter said, "Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk." {7} Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man's feet and ankles became strong.””

(Matthew 13:58 NIV) “And he did not do many miracles there because of their lack of faith.”

(Luke 13:34 NIV) “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing!”

Because their time and resources were limited, Paul and Barnabas looked for those who had faith to believe. Two indicators of faith were a listening ear and good eye contact. When Paul looked into the eyes of the attentive crippled man, he saw faith. He saw willingness in the man’s eyes. We cannot knock the doors down in people’s lives -- faith must open the door from the inside before the Lord will enter. Jesus dealt with this early in His ministry, leaving Nazareth because of their lack of faith -- and near the end of His ministry, when He lamented Jerusalem’s unwillingness to believe. Perhaps that is why He spent the majority of His time ministering in other places. Spend time with those who know they have a need -- those who want change in their life. It is difficult to bring healing to the faithless who think they are just fine. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day

Living to Preach Another Day

July 9

(Acts 14:6-7 NIV) “But they found out about it and fled to the Lycaonian cities of Lystra and Derbe and to the surrounding country, {7} where they continued to preach the good news.”

(Matthew 9:36-38 NIV) ““When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. {37} Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. {38} Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.””

(Galatians 6:9 NIV) “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”

Paul and Barnabas became aware of a plot to kill them, and they fled. They did this more than once in their ministry, but they were never silenced by fear -- they just took the gospel message somewhere else. When we meet resistance, it is not wrong to move on, but it is wrong to stop sharing the truth. Many Christians have been intimidated into becoming a “silent witness”, which usually translates into “no witness at all”. We go to church on Sunday, we go home, we go to work, and when we die people read our obituary and say, “Wow, I didn’t know he was a Christian.” There is nothing wrong with being prudent, but it is wrong to quit. Paul and Barnabas moved on, but they moved on for the purpose of living to preach another day. Do not become weary in doing what is right. The fields are ripe for the harvest. The work can be dangerous, but it is our calling. Don’t quit! -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day

The High Cost of Ministry

July 8

(Acts 14:5 NIV) “There was a plot afoot among the Gentiles and Jews, together with their leaders, to mistreat them and stone them.”

(Mark 11:18 NIV) “The chief priests and the teachers of the law heard this and began looking for a way to kill him, for they feared him, because the whole crowd was amazed at his teaching.”

(John 5:18 NIV) “For this reason the Jews tried all the harder to kill him; not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God.”

(Luke 10:1-3 NIV) ““After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them two by two ahead of him to every town and place where he was about to go. {2} He told them, "The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field. {3} Go! I am sending you out like lambs among wolves.””

Paul and Barnabas didn’t just start arguments. They caused plots to be hatched -- plots to do them harm and kill them. Sometimes ministry comes at a very high cost. Jesus said it would be that way. He told the disciples that He was sending them out like lambs among wolves. This may come as a shock, but the Lord’s greatest concern is not our personal safety. Instead, His chief concern is saving souls from hell. Jesus gave up His life to help accomplish that mission. What are you willing to give? When we do ministry, we may get roughed up. Sometimes the price may be even higher. But if we spend our lives avoiding danger, we will never excel at being a disciple. Paul’s ministry came at a high cost, and so will yours. Will you pay the price? Millions of other disciples down through history have given their all. How much will you give? -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day