Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

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Creation Speaks of God

Bible Reading: :  Acts 14:11-18

Key verse:  15

“We too are only human, like you. We are bringing you good news, telling you to turn from these worthless things to the living God, who made the heavens and the earth and the sea and everything in them." — Acts 14:15

DEVOTION

When Paul and Barnabas healed the crippled man in Lystra, the people of Lystra were amazed.  They believed Paul and Barnabas were gods and prepared to offer sacrifices to them. Instead of accepting the praise, Paul and Barnabas were deeply distressed. They immediately pointed the crowd away from themselves and toward the living God, the Creator of heaven and earth.
This moment exposes a truth about the human heart: We often seek visible heroes and celebrates people for remarkable achievements and are often slow to recognize the invisible hand of God. The Lystrans weren’t evil; they were simply spiritually misdirected. They saw power and assumed divinity. They saw blessing and assumed the source was human. Paul’s response reminds us that miracles, gifts, talents, and successes are never meant to point to us—they are meant to point through us to God. 
In our own lives, we often admire talent, leadership, kindness, or success. And sometimes, without meaning to, we let that admiration settle on us. We enjoy the affirmation. We let the spotlight linger a little too long.
But this passage gently reminds us: we’re not the source. We’re not the miracle workers. We’re simply vessels God chooses to use. Every blessing we enjoy is a reminder of His faithfulness. Like Paul and Barnabas, we are called to be signposts that point others to Him.

PRAYER

Lord, thank you for every blessing You’ve poured into our lives. Keep us humble and help us give You the honor You deserve. May our words and actions always point others to You. Amen

Thought for the DAY

“Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.” 1 Peter 4:10
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Eapen Ninan K
Mar Thoma Church of South Florida

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