Look Beyond the Pulpit

Look Beyond the Pulpit We too are only men, human like you. (Acts 14:15) When Paul was on his first missionary journey, he and Barnabas traveled to Lystra. Because of the culture and language barrier, the residents thought Paul and Barnabas were gods. They honored them and wanted to offer sacrifices to them. When the crowd saw that Paul had healed a crippled man, they shouted in the Lycaonian language, "The gods have come down to us in human form!" But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard of this, they tore their clothes and rushed into the crowd shouting, "Men, why are you doing this? We too are only men, human like you. We are bringing you good news, telling you to turn from these worthless things to the living God, who made heaven and earth and seas and everything in them. (Acts 14:11-15) Today some people react the same way to those who bring the message from God although there is no culture or language barrier. Even when the messengers of God try to point people to God, some people find it difficulty to look beyond the pulpit. When people's eyes do not gaze beyond the pulpit, they disappoint God and put themselves in a position not to receive from God. Studies have shown that those who worship the pastor and other leaders can never exceed beyond the standards of the pastor or other leaders in their own church. That's why it is so important for the leaders to do exactly what Paul and Barnabas did: encourage, admonish, insist, persuade, instruct, direct, guide, lead, teach, train, command or do whatever it takes to get people to look beyond the pulpit. There is so much more in store for God's people when they look to the living God who made heaven and earth and seas and everything in them. The pulpit is not the standard. Heaven is! The messenger is not the standard. God is! Look to God who is above the pulpit and above every message that is spoken there.

Great for this day and age. Too many believe in the messenger and not the Message. Thanks and I love love love the new avatar picture! Joan M You are a cute little thing...just like Tink.