A
daily, Bible-based perspective of hope, encouragement and
exhortation.
Thursday,
January 28,
2021
"The One True
God"
Message summary: Today, like
Paul, we urge each reader to turn from all vain
things to a living God, who made the heaven and the
earth and the sea and all that is in them.
Listen to this message on your audio player. "We
bring you good news, that you should turn from
these vain things to a living God, who made the
heaven and the earth and the sea and all that is
in them" (Acts
14:15). "For there is one God and one mediator
between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus" (1
Timothy 2:5).
Jackline, an
African reader shared a news report with us about Owobusobozi Bisaka, a
man in Uganda who died earlier this week. Well,
death is a universal reality and all
over the world people die
every day. In fact although estimates vary, each day
some 150,000 people die worldwide.
But
what made this man's death newsworthy is that he
claimed to be god. Our reader muses, "I wonder
what happens to the followers when their god dies".
All throughout history there have been those who
claim to be gods such as Jim Jones and David Koresh
during our lifetime.
Have
you ever wondered what it would be like to think you
were god? Now of course that's a very sacrilegious
thought and hopefully we are grounded enough in
sound theology to resist such a notion, though there
are some among us who might act as though they were
gods, masters of their own fates. They live in small
worlds of their own preferences and curse the forces
that oppose their rule.
The
Apostle Paul wrote, "Do not think of yourself
more highly than you ought" (Romans 12:3). Now
that's good, solid counsel for all of us isn't it?
Especially for any who may have any sort of notion
that they are a god!
The
tower of Babel was an attempt by men to have godlike
power and they invited others to join them, "Come,
let us build ourselves a city, with a tower that
reaches to the heavens, so that we may make a
name for ourselves" (Genesis 11:4).
Later
in the Old Testament period Nebuchadnezzar, ruler of
the Babylonian Empire, sure thought a lot more of
himself than he should have. He was walking on the
roof of his palace and said, "Is not this the
great Babylon I have built as the royal
residence, by my mighty power and for the
glory of my majesty?" (Daniel 4:30). Daniel 4:31-37 reveals how
Nebuchadnezzar was put in his proper place.
In the
New Testament Herod gloated when he heard the people
proclaim praise toward him, "This is the voice
of a god, not of a man" (Acts 12:22). Failing
to immediately give glory to God, "an angel of
the Lord struck him down, and he was eaten by
worms and died" (v. 23).
Only a
few chapters later Paul and Barnabas demonstrated a
proper response to those who had a very mistaken
notion that they were gods, immediately deflecting
the mistaken praise and pointing to the one true
God. (Normally we just use the most pertinent part
of a Scripture portion but this entire selection is
needed here.)
"And when the crowds saw what Paul had
done, they lifted up their voices, saying in
Lycaonian, 'The gods have come down to us in the
likeness of men!' Barnabas they called Zeus, and
Paul, Hermes, because he was the chief speaker.
And the priest of Zeus, whose temple was at the
entrance to the city, brought oxen and garlands to
the gates and wanted to offer sacrifice with the
crowds. But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul
heard of it, they tore their garments and rushed
out into the crowd, crying out, 'Men, why are you
doing these things? We also are men, of like
nature with you, and we bring you good news, that
you should turn from these vain things to a living
God, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea
and all that is in them. In past generations He
allowed all the nations to walk in their own ways.
Yet He did not leave himself without witness, for
He did good by giving you rains from heaven and
fruitful seasons, satisfying your hearts with food
and gladness.' Even with these words they scarcely
restrained the people from offering sacrifice to
them" (Acts 14:11-18).
Today,
like Paul, we urge each reader to turn from all vain
things to the living God, who made the heavens and
the earth and the sea and all that is in them.
Be
encouraged today,
Stephen
& Brooksyne Weber
Daily
prayer: Father, just
as Barnabas and Paul refused the praise of men, we
too must never glory in anything we say or do, but
acknowledge and testify that all wisdom and all
power is given to us from our Creator God. The only
boasting that should come from our lips is that we
understand and know You are our Lord who exercises
kindness, justice and righteousness on earth; that
You take great delight when we exercise these
virtues. Keep us humble and honest in our assessment
of who we are and our acknowledgement of who You
are, our Father and the Savior of the world. Amen.
See Jeremiah 9:24
Further
thought on Acts 14: In Lystra Paul and
Barnabas prayed for a man crippled from birth to be
healed and God miraculously answered that prayer.
But the crowd mistook the miracle from God to be
healing power generated from the apostles and
considered them to be gods sent from heaven in the
form of man. Many of the heathen emperors called
themselves gods, so the crowd reasoned why not
celebrate these powerful men and declare them to be
the newest gods? In their excitement and celebrative
mood they did so and began to prepare sacrifices in
Paul and Barnabas' honor.
The
apostles quickly responded to the crowd by tearing
their clothes. Scripture does not mention that the
apostles tore their clothes when they were being
reviled. They could face this without disturbance,
but when they were being deified they refused to be
honored as gods! If Christian workers who are used
of God would remain humble and not become crowd
seekers, giving all the glory and honor
to Jesus, the kingdom of God would increase tenfold
and the scandalous stories would diminish tenfold as
well.
Here's
the entire context regarding Herod: "Now Herod
was angry with the people of Tyre and Sidon, and
they came to him with one accord, and having
persuaded Blastus, the king's chamberlain, they
asked for peace, because their country depended on
the king's country for food. On an appointed day
Herod put on his royal robes, took his seat upon
the throne, and delivered an oration to them. And
the people were shouting, 'The voice of a god, and
not of a man!' Immediately an angel of the Lord
struck him down, because he did not give God the
glory, and he was eaten by worms and breathed his
last. But the word of God increased and
multiplied" (Acts 12:20-24).
Today's
Suggested Music and Supplemental
Resources
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Scripture references are from The Holy Bible: New International Version. © 1984 by International Bible Society; NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright © 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, New King James Version (NKJV) Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. and the King James Version. Personal Mission Statement: "I am created by God to bring Him glory. Through God's Son Jesus Christ I have been redeemed and make it my life's goal to please the Lord. My mission in life is to honor God through my faith and obedience and prepare myself and all whom I may influence for eternity."
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