How does Acts 12:23 encourage us to give glory to God in all things? Setting the Scene: Herod’s Fatal Pride - Context: Herod Agrippa I had just persecuted the church, executed James, and imprisoned Peter (Acts 12:1-4). - The crowd praised Herod as a god: “The voice of a god, and not of a man!” (Acts 12:22). - Verse 23 records the Lord’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.” The Core Lesson: God Alone Deserves Glory - God’s glory is exclusive (Isaiah 42:8). - Herod’s refusal to redirect praise revealed a heart of pride; God publicly exposed that pride. - The literal judgment underscores how seriously the Lord safeguards His honor (Psalm 24:8-10). - By contrast, those who humbly magnify God experience His favor (James 4:6). Practical Takeaways for Daily Life - Acknowledge the Source: • Credit God verbally for every success—career wins, good grades, healed relationships. - Keep Worship Central: • Begin and end the day with gratitude; sing, pray, and testify. - Guard Against Subtle Pride: • Reject self-congratulating thoughts; redirect compliments upward. - Obey in the Ordinary: • “Whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all to the glory of God.” (1 Corinthians 10:31) - Encourage Others Godward: • When someone excels, celebrate the Lord’s gifting in that person. - Remember the Stakes: • Herod’s end reminds us that pride invites resistance from God, while humility invites grace (1 Peter 5:5-6). Supporting Scriptures That Reinforce the Call to Glorify God - Psalm 115:1 — “Not to us, O LORD, not to us, but to Your name be the glory…” - Revelation 4:11 — “You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power…” - Philippians 2:9-11 — Every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. - Proverbs 3:34 — “He mocks the proud but gives grace to the humble.” |
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