RELY ON THE GRACE OF GOD, NOT MEN
In town after town, as people came to faith after hearing the gospel proclaimed by Paul and Barnabas, they would begin to follow them. But the two men always urged the people to rely on the grace of God, not men. For Paul and Barnabas wanted them to know that they were mere vessels of God’s grace and urged the new believers to always look to God. They made sure to urge people to shift their eyes from the messengers of grace to the Source of grace, namely, Jesus Christ.
Putting wrong reliance on the messenger is still a human tendency today. People make heroes of preachers or treat pastors like celebrities and look to follow them for answers and help. Inevitably, they are disappointed. For human heroes and celebrities always turn out to be fallible.
But God never fails. He is always faithful. Let us always honor and respect our spiritual fathers and mothers, our pastors and spiritual leaders. But let us put our reliance on the grace of God through Jesus Christ.
PRAYER: Dear Father, we rely on You and upon the grace You have given us through Your Son, Jesus. We honor and respect those you have put over us, but we look to You as our source of grace and strength. You alone deserve our worship and praise. In Jesus’ name, amen.