Topic: When You Are No Longer In The Spotlight [Friday July 13, 2018]
“Now when Paul and his company loosed from Paphos, they came to Perga in Pamphylia….” Acts 13:13
“Now when Paul and his company….” It didn’t say Barnabas and his company. But in Acts 13:2, it was “Barnabas and Paul” It means, therefore, that at a certain point, Paul began to play a leading role. You will notice the scripture says; Paul and Barnabas, not Barnabas and Paul (Acts 13:43, 46, 50). Why is that important? It is important because some of us don’t know that those that you raised will at a stage attain the spotlight. And when they are in the spotlight, what is your reaction? How do you behave? When the people you raised are now in the spotlight and you are not there, do you quench their light?
Barnabas knew his role. John said, “He must increase, but I must decrease” (John 3:30). Some of us have just refused to decrease. And so what happens is that if you fail to decrease, you will be disgraced. That’s a revelation you must have once and for all and settle in your heart. If you fail to humble yourself, you will be disgraced and God will humble you.
Barnabas was content and never a time did he say: “Before you preach, tell them that I helped you. That should be your first testimony” Stop that! What do you have that God did not give you? Why will you build it and be killing it? You are called to build and not to destroy. The man was contented to be the second figure. He was content to play the second fiddle to Paul. Remember that it was Barnabas who mentored Paul. It was Barnabas that introduced Paul to ministry.
Beloved, we are called to build not to destroy. I should be happy to sit and watch you. I should be happy to become your cheerleader. When the people you poured your life into are making it all over the place, that’s your glory. Nothing changes and your reward remains the same.
Further reading: Acts 13:1-52
Daily Bible Reading: Morning- Psalms 7-9; Evening- Acts 18
Written by Dr. Mike Okonkwo; Is the Presiding Bishop of The Redeemed Evangelical Mission (TREM); a versatile man of God with over 30 years of dedicated service unto the Lord.
