But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard this, they tore their clothes and ran in among the multitude, crying out and saying, “Men, why are you doing these things? We also are men with the same nature as you, and preach to you that you should turn from these useless things to the living God, who made the heaven, the earth, the sea, and all things that are in them, who in bygone generations allowed all nations to walk in their own ways. (Acts 14:14-16 NKJV)

ACTS 14 IN ITS ENTIRETY.

Thought For The Week: As Christians, we are called to turn away from the vanities of this world and to turn towards the living God who created all things. In the above text, we see Barnabas and Paul preaching to a crowd of people who were worshipping false gods. Upon receiving this news, the apostles rent their clothes and ran amid the crowd, crying out to turn away from these vanities and to turn to the true and living God.

We, too, must heed this call to turn away from the vanities of this world. Every day, we are bombarded with messages that tell us to focus on material possessions, fame, and status. But all of these things are temporary and will soon fade away. What we should be focusing on is our relationship with God, which is eternal.

It may not be easy to turn away from these vanities, but it is necessary if we truly want to live a fulfilling life. We have to seek the face of God and trust in His plan for our lives. When we do, the things of this world will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace.

Prayer: Dear God, please help us to turn away from the vanities of this world and to turn towards You, the living God. Strengthen us in our faith and help us to trust in Your plan for our lives. May we seek Your face in all that we do, and may the things of this world pale in comparison to the beauty of Your love. Amen.