“WE ALSO ARE MEN!”

Acts 14:8-15                        (ESV)

“8 Now at Lystra there was a man sitting who could not use his feet. He was crippled from birth and had never walked.

9 He listened to Paul speaking. And Paul, looking intently at him and seeing that he had faith to be made well,

10 said in a loud voice, "Stand upright on your feet." And he sprang up and began walking.

11 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!"

12 Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul, Hermes, because he was the chief speaker.

13 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.

14 But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard of it, they tore their garments and rushed out into the crowd, crying out,

15 "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.”

Having your EYES opened to SEE the HAND of GOD being used in such a way that a publicly declared MIRACLE has occurred can be a blessing, but it can also be a curse IF Glory isn’t given to WHOM it is due!!  I’m blessed to be in a position of making sure the correct PERSON gets the Glory.  On September 25, 2007 my doctor wrote in my medical records “However he has had an remarkable recovery that could only be described as a miracle from GOD”!  Notice, the fact that I was alive and well wasn’t credited to my overall physical strength, or being “lucky”, or a great medical team, it was definitely “a miracle from GOD”!  

“WE ALSO ARE MEN” makes it clear to me that WE ARE NOT GOD, no matter how much we act OR OTHERS TREAT US as though we are!  We usually perform what we think is best, with little or no regard to how GOD (or HIS Word!) instructs us.  

In the Scriptures above, the Apostle Paul and Barnabas were very quick to deflect any and all praise to the LIVING GOD, WHO made the heavens and the earth!  While some misguided souls were trying to offer sacrifices to a false god, Paul and Barnabas said “WE ALSO ARE MEN”, dispelling any notion that they were responsible for the healing GOD had performed earlier. 

In Exodus 20:3 specifically states “"You shall have no other gods before ME.”  Included in that “no other gods” is our own selfish desires.   When we come to a true understanding of WHO GOD really is, it is quite easy to admit “WE ALSO ARE MEN”!  When we are elevated by others, even unwillingly, we are in danger of being thought of too highly.  We MUST remember that “WE ALSO ARE MEN” and give credit to ALMIGHTY GOD as our only GOD!!!p