What can we learn from Acts 12:22 about the dangers of pride? Scripture Focus Acts 12:22: “And they began to shout, ‘This is the voice of a god, not a man!’” Setting the Scene • Herod Agrippa I is wearing royal robes, seated on his throne, addressing the people of Tyre and Sidon. • The crowd flatters him, calling his voice divine. • Verse 23 records God’s swift judgment: “Immediately, because Herod did not give glory to God, an angel of the Lord struck him down, and he was eaten by worms and died.” What Happened When Pride Took Center Stage • Herod enjoyed the praise rather than deflecting it to God. • God responded instantly, showing that misplaced glory is no small matter. • The account underscores the literal, historical seriousness with which God guards His honor (cf. Isaiah 42:8). Key Lessons About Pride • Pride steals glory that belongs only to God. – Isaiah 48:11: “My glory I will not give to another.” • Pride brings swift judgment. – Proverbs 16:18: “Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.” – James 4:6: “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” • Public success can tempt private arrogance. Herod’s polished image masked a heart unwilling to acknowledge God. • Pride blinds us to our dependence on the Lord, cutting us off from His grace (1 Peter 5:5–6). The Call to Humility • Redirect praise upward: like Paul and Barnabas in Acts 14:14–15 who tore their clothes and cried, “We too are only men.” • Remember God as source and sustainer: Deuteronomy 8:17–18 warns against saying, “My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me.” • Embrace servant leadership modeled by Jesus (Mark 10:45). Practical Steps to Guard Our Hearts • Begin and end each day with thanksgiving, acknowledging specific gifts from God. • Invite accountability—friends or mentors who will lovingly point out pride. • Saturate your mind with Scripture that magnifies God’s greatness (Psalm 115:1). • Celebrate others’ successes; rejoicing with them shifts focus off self. • Quickly confess prideful thoughts before they take root. Encouragement Going Forward • God’s judgment of Herod is sobering, yet Romans 12:3 urges us “not to think of ourselves more highly than we ought.” • Humility positions us to receive grace, witness God’s power, and reflect His glory rather than competing for it. |
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