Glory of God: Claiming to Be Wise, He Became a Fool

Acts 12:20-25

Immediately an angel of the Lord struck him down, because he did not give God the glory (v. 23a)

Herod Agrippa was not a nice guy–he killed James the brother of John and imprisoned Peter–but no one could deny he was important. He was the grandson of Herod the Great (who issued the Massacre of the Innocents at Jesus' birth). He was a friend of Emperors and one of the great princes of the East, ruling over the land of Judea. So when Herod, decked in royal robes, sat on his throne and delivered a stirring ovation, it seemed only fitting that the crowds would shout, "The voice of a god, and not of a man!" Herod just soaked it all in. But God was not impressed, and he struck down Herod dead right on the spot.

What made Herod's crime so serious as to merit such swift retribution? He did not give God the glory. No one may mistake us for gods, but we are tempted just like Herod to seek our own fame and not the Lord's. The world does not exist to make our dreams come true. Our friends do not exist to make us feel special. The church does not exist to make us feel comfortable. And God does not exist to make much of us. His glory he will not give to another.