Grace, Hope & Peace, Friend;
As Paul was preaching in Lystra, he noticed a man, who had been lame since birth, listening to him. Seeing the man had ‘faith to be made well‘, Paul said, “Stand upright on your feet!” And the man leaped up and began to walk.
When the crowds saw this, they said, “The gods have become like men and have come down to us!” When they tried to offer sacrifices to them. Paul and Barnabas tore their robes and rushed into the crowd, (Acts 14:8-14)
Saying, “Men, why are you doing these things? We are also men, of the same nature as you, preaching the gospel to you…”
Acts 14:15a-d
Do we sometimes take credit for something God does through us? Maybe we help someone out and ‘feel good‘ about what WE have done. There is nothing wrong about feeling good that someone was ‘helped‘ – We are told to “Rejoice with those who rejoice”; (Romans 12:15) But do we acknowledge that, if God had not blessed us with the means and opportunity, we could not have helped them?
Jesus told a parable, to some self-righteous people, about two men – a Pharisee and a tax collector – praying in the temple. The Pharisee said, “God, I thank You that I am not like other people: swindlers, crooked, adulterers, or even like this tax collector.” But the tax collector stood apart, face down and said, “God, be merciful to me, the sinner!” And Jesus concluded saying, “I tell you, this man went to his house justified rather than the other one; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.” (Luke 18:9-14)
“Thank you that I am not like this tax collector.“
Guess what? You are! You are no better than the murderer sitting on death row. You have the same penchant for sin as all humanity but God has blessed you with a measure of restraint. Maybe, through observing His creation, you know some things are just ‘wrong‘; or maybe you have heard the gospel and believe – some things are just ‘right.’
Paul understood he had the same struggle with sin as every other human (Romans 7) and acknowledged, “It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost.” (1 Timothy 1:15)
If God has blessed you, give Him the credit!
Elohim Yishi – God of my Salvation – Thank you that, although I am no better than any other person, You have blessed be with knowing You. Help me share that blessing.
Worthy are You, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and because of Your will they existed, and were created.
Revelation 4:11
Give Him the credit,
Words of Encouragement 