GOD’S GLORY FITS NO MAN

Acts 12:23 LOGOS
Then immediately an angel of the Lord struck him, because he did not give glory to God. And he was eaten by worms and died.

Dear Believer,

I have reasons to believe that many Believers think that when they praise God or give Him glory, they are doing Him a favor.

No, you aren’t doing God a favor by praising Him; you are simply giving Him what belongs to Him.

And it is important to know that it is criminal to take God’s glory for yourself or give it to a human being.

Let me tell you this emphatically: GOD’S PRAISE CAN NEVER LOOK GOOD ON ANY MAN. No man has the capacity to take God’s glory for himself.

There are certain sacred things that man can never touch or share in, and God’s praise is one of them. Herod the king didn’t know this and he received a terrible judgement.

Just how seriously does God take the glory that is due Him?

In the Old Testament, God warned that He would not share His glory with anyone else. (Isaiah 42:8). Later, He warned the priests in a very severe tone.

Malachi 2:2 KJV
If ye will not hear, and if ye will not lay it to heart, to give glory unto my name, saith the LORD of hosts, I will even send a curse upon you, and I will curse your blessings: yea, I have cursed them already, because ye do not lay it to heart.

Yes, I know this was in the Old Testament. However, it shows how God takes the issue.

Read what happened to Herod the king in Acts 12:21-23. The people praised him and called His voice the voice of God. Herod savored the moment and got carried away with his gift of oratory.

When he took the praise that belonged to God, an angel hit him. Read this again:

Acts 12:23 LOGOS
Then immediately an angel of the Lord struck him, because he did not give glory to God. And he was eaten by worms and died.

Note that the angel didn’t hit those who were praising the loquacious king. The Tyrians and Zidonians were a hungry lot whose livelihood seemed to depend on the generosity of the king. Herod failed to realise that though he was king, he owed his kingship to the King of Kings who enthrones and dethrones as He wills.

Don’t ever let sycophants, flatterers and deceivers praise you to death like they did Herod.

Some preachers quote John 17:22 to claim that Jesus has given His glory to us, so there’s nothing wrong in sharing in God’s glory. Context is the issue here. Does it make any sense, based on the verse, that people should be worshiping us Believers? Jesus was simply saying that He had given His honor to the great body of Believers.

Whatever you have, whoever you are, wherever you are, praise and glorify God, and if anyone or a group of people starts to ascribe any glory to you for any achievement or ability, reject it and direct it all to God.

To you be the blessings; to God be the glory.

Amen.

Have a great day.
Your friend,