Acts 14
By Pastor Brad
What!? Really!?
You have got to be kidding me. Is this the scripture passage I get to deal with this week? What special morsel of insight am I going to be able to share this time?
That is how the devotional begins in my head each week. And the conversation usually follows like this.
Brad: Okay Lord, I read this passage…four times…and I got nothing. What do you want me to say?
God: Nothing.
Brad: What! You don’t understand. I’ve got a deadline. Like in two hours!!!!!
God: Say nothing. No thing. Nada. Zippo. Zilch. I don’t want you to say anything. I’ll do the talking. It’s not about you, it’s about me….remember?
Brad: Yeah, I do. Thanks. So, what do you want to say this week?
So, I read the passage again for the fifth time and this is what I heard being said. Actually, I heard a song.
Paul, seeing that a crippled man had faith to be healed he called out, “Stand up on your feet!” The man jumps up and begins to walk. The crowd seeing this believes Paul and Barnabas to be the gods in human form. The crowds begin to worship them and offer sacrifices to them.
(music begins)
Not to us
But to Your name be the glory
Not to us
But to Your name be the glory
The cross before me, the world behind
No turning back, raise the banner high
It’s not for me, it’s all for You
Let the heavens shake and split the sky
Let the people clap their hands and cry
It’s not for us, it’s all for You
CHORUS
Our hearts unfold before Your throne
The only place for those who know
It’s not for us, it’s all for You
Send Your holy fire on this offering
Let our worship burn for the world to see
It’s not for us, it’s all for You
CHORUS
The earth is shaking, the mountains shouting
It’s all for You
The waves are crashing, the sun is raging
It’s all for You
The universe is spinning and singing
It’s all for You
Your children dancing, dancing, dancing
It’s all for You
It’s all for You
Not to us
But to Your name be the glory
Not to us
But to Your name be the glory
Not to us
Sometimes I find myself taking the glory that is not mine to take. God doesn’t need my help, but he allows me to be involved in what He’s doing. That works so much better.
In my office on my wall is a picture with this verse inscribed. I look at it often to remind myself.
“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.” Colossians 3:23-24
As you read today’s passage, listen for the music, I think you’ll hear it!
