How should Acts 12:22 influence our response to praise and recognition? Setting the scene Acts 12 records Herod Agrippa I celebrating a political victory. He sits on his throne in regal splendor, addresses the gathered crowd, and… “ And they began to shout, ‘This is the voice of a god, not of a man!’ ” (Acts 12:22) Herod savors the praise. Verse 23 follows immediately: “Immediately an angel of the Lord struck him down, because he did not give glory to God, and he was eaten by worms and died.” What the moment teaches • Praise can become idolatry when it inflates human ego. • God alone deserves worship and glory (Isaiah 42:8; Revelation 4:11). • Refusing to redirect glory invites God’s discipline; He “opposes the proud” (1 Peter 5:5-6). • Scripture presents the historical death of Herod as a literal warning. Timeless principles for our hearts • Glory is God’s exclusive property. Any honor we receive is a stewardship, not ownership (1 Corinthians 4:7; James 1:17). • Humility keeps blessings from turning into snares (Proverbs 27:21). • Quickly deflecting applause protects both the giver and the receiver from pride. Practical steps when applause comes • Acknowledge God out loud: “I’m grateful to the Lord who enabled this.” • Shift the spotlight: highlight the team, the helpers, the providence behind the success. • Guard inner thoughts—silently thank God before processing any compliment. • Use praise as a platform for testimony (Daniel 2:28; Genesis 41:16). • Maintain spiritual disciplines; private worship fuels public humility. • Invite accountability—allow trusted believers to speak up if arrogance creeps in. Encouraging biblical examples • Peter rejects Cornelius’s worship: “Stand up, I too am only a man” (Acts 10:26). • Paul and Barnabas tear their clothes when called gods in Lystra (Acts 14:14-15). • John the Baptist: “He must increase; I must decrease” (John 3:30). A closing encouragement Every compliment is an opportunity: either to elevate self like Herod or to exalt the Lord who “gives us life and breath and everything else” (Acts 17:25). Choose the latter, and your life becomes a living doxology rather than a cautionary tale. |
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