New God's?

In Lystra a man without strength in his feet, lame from birth, and who had never walked, sat and heard Paul speaking. After observing him closely and seeing that he had faith to be healed,  Paul said in a loud voice, "Stand upright on your feet!" And he jumped up and started to walk around.

When the crowd saw what Paul had done, they raised their voices, saying in the Lyconian language, "The gods have come down in the form of men!"

The apostles Barnabas and Paul tore their robes when they heard this and rushed into the crowd shouting: "Men why are you doing these things? We are men also, with the same nature as you, and we are proclaiming good news to you, that you should turn from those worthless things to the living God."... Acts 14:8-11;14,15

Previously we saw Herod praised in such a way, and because he failed to give God the glory, died a horrible death. Here we see the opposite. Paul and Barnabas were in Lystra to proclaim Christ, not themselves.

The locals wanted to sacrifice to Paul and Barnabas, assuming them to be gods. Their understanding is so basic, yet the Jews came and stirred them up and they are robbed of their understanding. Prior to Paul and Barnabas coming they did not have life, the Jews had not impacted upon them in any way, they were lost and without eternal life. Along comes their opportunity to receive Christ and the enemy of their souls uses religion to keep them in bondage.

The truth about Christ has to be grasped by hungry hearts, hearts that will not allow religion to rob them. They must want out of their cages enough to break out and chase the wind of the Spirit. Only Christ can set them free and give them a hole and a future. Amen!