The gods we worship
by Carolyn Ehrlich
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When the crowd saw what Paul had done, they shouted in the Lycaonian language, ‘The gods have come down to us in human form!’ (Acts 14:11)
Paul was out and about doing the work that God had commanded him to do. He was performing healing miracles, but the crowds were attributing the miracles to him, praising and worshipping him, instead of recognising, praising and worshipping the real and only God who is the source of all miracles.
Of course, Paul and Barnabas were horrified and continued to teach the truth of God our Father. The question for us to consider regarding today’s verse is how and when we might be like the people of Lystra. How often do we place faith in our little ‘g’ gods as the source of healing? Likewise, how often do we fail to even recognise healing as a miracle from God in the first place? We live in a privileged country. We have a first-class health care system, and we have access to medical miracles every day. And we do not always see our God behind the healing we witness.
From a different but related perspective, do we even recognise miracles generally? Is it possible amazing and wonderful things are going on around us every day that is evidence there is a mighty, powerful and loving God active in our lives and communities? A God who just wants us to see him, worship him, love him, adore him, believe in him? And how often do we blindly follow our human gods and idols? These can include our little ‘g’ gods of sport, recreation, social media – whatever it is we spend most of our time and money on that we bring into our lives and worship daily at the expense of our wonderful, amazing and loving Father?
Today, reflect on the world you live in. Look behind what you usually do and think, and look to the only God that matters – the God of miracles and healing, the God of love and laughter.
Father God, today I choose to worship you. You have blessed my life with so much good, but I do not always or consistently recognise your hand in my life. Forgive me for all the times I have placed my faith in somebody or something in this world when my faith rightly belongs with you. Today and this week, help me see the miracles you perform in this world – miracles of rain and harvests, health and wellbeing and not always miracles for me but always miracles for your people. In Jesus’ awesome name, I pray, Amen.
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