Now Herod was angry with the people of Tyre and Sidon, and they came to him with one accord, and having persuaded Blastus, the king’s chamberlain, they asked for peace, because their country depended on the king’s country for food. On an appointed day Herod put on his royal robes, took his seat upon the throne, and delivered an oration to them. And the people were shouting, “The voice of a god, and not of a man!” Immediately an angel of the Lord struck him down, because he did not give God the glory, and he was eaten by worms and breathed his last.
But the word of God increased and multiplied.
And Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem when they had completed their service, bringing with them John, whose other name was Mark. (Acts 12:20-25 ESV)
Have you ever seen an angel of the Lord descend from Heaven and smite someone? Herod was struck down as he spoke to his people because he did not correct them. He did not tell them that he was not a god, but allowed them to continue chanting the words of a god, not a man. He allowed what they were saying to him to go to his head and he maybe thought he was a god.
Have you ever felt like you were a god? Have you ever done something so well, that people say that no one has done it better. That you really are the best person in the world to do this. These things can easily go to our heads, but we must be careful. There is nothing in this world that you do that can not be done by someone else. And probably just as good or better than you, no matter what someone else says. And that is ok. Someone else can do the stuff you do, but no one else can be you. You are unique, created by God that way, and that is who deserves all of the glory. God is the one who deserves the glory and who is the only God.
So we have to be humble and say we do the things we do only by the grace and power of God. As Bach wrote on each piece of music he composed the initial SDG for Soli Deo Gloria, “To God alone be glory”. Remember to humble yourself, so you will never see the angel of the Lord descending from Heaven to smite you.
aSacredRebel 