Did you ever talk to someone, you think they understand you...and then they go and do something stupid and you know they didn't hear a word you said. They might have been listening, but they didn't hear a thing. (I see that a lot with the 7 and under crowd in our house.) The people in Lystra were like that. They listened to Barnabas and Paul preach the good news, but immediately their tiny little brains credited their good works to false gods and tried to offer sacrifices to the two men.
They called Barnabas, Zeus and Paul, Hermes. According the legend, the people of Lystra claimed that the gods had once visited their city, but nobody offered them any hospitality except for an older couple, so they wiped out the entire town except for the two old people. When they remembered the legend, they were quick to bring gifts for Barnabas and Paul.
When they realized what was happening, I can picture Barnabas and Paul saying to the crowd "What we got here, is, failure to communicate". They tried convincing everyone they were just men...and I really liked what they said afterwards. In verses 15-18 they try to get the people to realize that the proof of God is all around them...it's in the rain, the crops that grow when they're supposed to, the food they eat. That is something really easy to overlook when I'm looking for something BIG from God, or I just plain forget the "little" things. I'm sitting here watching the rain...and when I really consider the rain, I start to think about where I'm sitting (my beautifully remodeled kitchen), my son next to me, the breakfast at our table, the flowers I have actually growing outside (despite my black thumb) that were in much need of watering - and God is taking care of that for me today...because I needed to be inside doing the laundry I've let pile up during the nicer weather we've had. But I digress.
So within days, the people offering these gifts turned on Barnabas and Paul...they stoned Paul and left him for dead! But the men were consistent and committed to their mission...even to the point of returning to all of the areas where people had attacked or plotted against them. They didn't go back for the people they couldn't reach - but for the ones they did, so they could build them up and support the new believers in faith. We need to do the same. If we know a new believer, we're called to support and encourage them. When we offer Christ's message of salvation to someone, we've done our part but then it's up to the other person to make their own decision.
Still loving your posts! Not related but cool story today at work a Supervisor came in to tell me a story. She says "I know you have talked about bible study, you are a christian right?" then she proceeded to tell me about an amazing story about her sister in China (mission trip teaching English). A fellow missionary was just diagnosed w/ Cancer while there. Then upon returning home they found no sign of the cancer. Just was an awesome story and you could see her joy in realizing God's miracle for this man. Pretty cool she told me about it and I am glad people I work with know where I stand!
ReplyDelete