2/16/09 Acts 14

Acts 14 talks about many works of Paul and Barnabas.  Among these works they did, one event caught my attention.  When Paul and Barnabas was staying in the Lycaonian cities, Lystra and Derbe, they thought Paul and Barnabas were Gods due to their miracles performed.  They referred Barnabas as Zeus and Paul as Hermes.  When Paul and Barnabas heard about this, they tore their clothes and shouted to crowd that they are wrong.  It is by God's grace that they were able to do such things.  

When I read this passage, I really admire the actions Paul and Barnabas took.  Instead of glorifying their works, they tried glorify God's name.  I believe we are very gifted in certain ways, and when we are succesful in our gifted ways, we tend to believe that we accomplished that gifts on our own.  However, these gifts we received are from God.  I see that Paul and Barnabas received trenmendous amount of gifts from God and it was very easy for them to claim it as their own.  However, they claimed as it isn't theirs'.