8 While they were at Lystra, Paul and Barnabas came upon a man with crippled feet. He had been that way from birth, so he had never walked. He was sitting 9 and listening as Paul preached. Looking straight at him, Paul realized he had faith to be healed. 10 So Paul called to him in a loud voice, “Stand up!” And the man jumped to his feet and started walking.
11 When the crowd saw what Paul had done, they shouted in their local dialect, “These men are gods in human form!” 12 They decided that Barnabas was the Greek god Zeus and that Paul was Hermes, since he was the chief speaker. 13 Now the temple of Zeus was located just outside the town. So the priest of the temple and the crowd brought bulls and wreaths of flowers to the town gates, and they prepared to offer sacrifices to the apostles.
14 But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard what was happening, they tore their clothing in dismay and ran out among the people, shouting, 15 “Friends, why are you doing this? We are merely human beings—just like you! We have come to bring you the Good News that you should turn from these worthless things and turn to the living God, who made heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them. 16 In the past he permitted all the nations to go their own ways, 17 but he never left them without evidence of himself and his goodness. For instance, he sends you rain and good crops and gives you food and joyful hearts.” 18 But even with these words, Paul and Barnabas could scarcely restrain the people from sacrificing to them.
19 Then some Jews arrived from Antioch and Iconium and won the crowds to their side. They stoned Paul and dragged him out of town, thinking he was dead. 20 But as the believers gathered around him, he got up and went back into the town. The next day he left with Barnabas for Derbe.
Acts 14:8-20
Dear God, I know I’ve read this story before. So how could I forget it? I guess there’s only so much place for things in my memory, and this one didn’t make the cut. But it is such a wild story! Such a wild story.
But I guess it reminds me of the mob mentality I talked about yesterday. What is it about us that is so susceptible to the group think and peer pressure of others? These people in Lystra have preconceived notions about religion, and when they see a miracle they apply that to the situation as a collective. Not even Paul and Barnabas themselves can disabuse them of their mistake. Then some persuasive men show up and talk the crowd into stoning them. It is reminiscent of Jesus’s triumphal entry on Sunday and crucifixion on Friday.
I guess this is a reminder for me to question everything. Absolutely everything. I know some people I truly respect and love who have a completely different view than me of the current political landscape in the United States. They celebrate what I grieve and they grieve what I celebrate. There are still areas for our Venn Diagrams overlap, but on some really core issues we are miles apart. So who is part of the mob mentality and who isn’t? Or are we all in different mobs, deceived in different ways?
Now that I think about it, the passages in the Gospels that describe passion week and this passage here never say that they crowds at the beginning of the stories contain the same people as the crowds at the end of the stories. Maybe we are all part of a mob and we don’t realize it. Maybe it’s human nature to find comfort in group-think.
Father, open my eyes so I can see this. Open my mind and heart and reveal the lies I believe to me. The main thing I need you to show me is how to love you better and how to love people around me better. If I can stick to those two things then the rest will fall into place. At least, that is what Jesus promised me. All of your other laws fit under those two. So I worship you. You are God. You are my absolute authority. You are my King. Let your Holy Spirit guide me moment to moment today. Show me where I am wrong and make me quick to repent. I offer myself to you. Help me as I teach this morning. Keep me from heresy. Keep me from leading anyone in the wrong direction and away from you. Use me today to lead others at least one step closer to you.
I pray this in Jesus and with your Holy Spirit,
Amen
Emails to God 