My friend Steven enjoyed a season of dubious fame. Some people were bold enough to come right up to him and ask for an autograph or a selfie. Others were a little shyer, but he could always spot them pointing him out or trying to work up the courage to come and talk to him.
The irony is that Steven wasn’t famous at all. He just happened to look like a local celebrity professional athlete. And while others might have given into vanity and soaked up the admiration, Stephen would patiently and graciously let his would-be fans know that he was not the star they were mistaking him for.
Paul and Barnabas found themselves in a similar situation in Lystra. After so much hard work, persecution, and trials throughout their ministry, it must have felt like quite an unexpected twist to be mistaken for gods:
“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.”
Acts 14:11-15, ESV
It’s almost the kind of story that you could imagine them laughing about later in life. Instead, they felt the urgency to make it clear that they were mere mortals, and that they had a much more important message on behalf of the one true God!
Paul and Barnabas were unwavering in their mission to draw people not to themselves, but to make disciples for Jesus. We must be humble enough to accept that this is our mission as well – we are not the stars! Paul had used his gift of healing not for his own glory, but to bring glory to God and draw attention to the author of all healing.
When we speak God‘s truth and proclaim his message, we never know if the results will be positive or negative, confusing or even somewhat humorous. Going out on a limb for God is always a risk, but it is this very risk that allows us the opportunity to do the work of Christ and point people to Him.
If we are blessed by the opportunity to do a miraculous work, give a discerning word, or experience the immense power of intercessory prayer, we need to be careful not to give in to the feeling that we are the stars, but to use the circumstances to point back to the Lord.
Save us from our vanity Lord, and let us live in such a way that all glory goes to You!