PRIDE: NOT MY GLORY!

Dear Believer,

Let us add a little color to the judgement of God on king Herod the Arrogant.

The King stood on the decorated platform, giving an oration to the mesmerized audience.

Herod Agrippa was a gifted orator and he knew it. He had the ‘gift of gab.’ He was a smooth talker who could get any audience ‘carried away’ to wherever he wanted.

Today he went too far. As he spoke and gesticulated, enumerating his success and achievements, he concluded that he single-handedly got where he was without help from anyone.

Flavius Josephus, the Jewish Historian who lived between 37 – 100 AD wrote about this event.

On the second day of the festival, Herod put on a garment made wholly of silver, and of a truly wonderful contexture, and came into the theater early in the morning; at which time the silver of his garment was illuminated by the fresh reflection of the sun’s rays upon it. It shone out after a surprising manner, and was so resplendent as to spread a horror over those that looked intently upon him. At that moment, his flatterers cried out […] that he was a god; and they added, ‘Be thou merciful to us; for although we have hitherto reverenced thee only as a man, yet shall we henceforth own thee as superior to mortal nature.’

Upon this the king did neither rebuke them, nor reject their impious flattery.

Here’s the Bible’s account:

Acts 12:21-23 (GW).

The appointed day came. Herod, wearing his royal clothes, sat on his throne and began making a speech to them. The people started shouting, “The voice of a god and not of a man!” Immediately, an angel from the Lord killed Herod for not giving glory to God. Herod was eaten by maggots, and he died.

I imagine that as the audience screamed and glorified Herod, he felt a sharp pain in his side, as if someone slapped him. Something oozed and flowed down his legs. He looked down and saw maggots, big worms wriggling down his body. An angel of the Lord had punched the stupid King. His days were numbered.

Why? Not because he killed (although he was a murderer who just killed one of the apostles); not because he committed adultery (although he was a serial adulterer); but ‘because he had not given the glory to God.’  This is how I knew that all other sins he committed were rooted in pride. Welcome, comeuppance!

 Pride goes before a fall, and if the proud keeps going, his fall shall be total.

Are you proud?

Rate yourself with the following:

Do you usually attribute absolute ability to yourself after a job well done, whether spiritual or natural?

Do you love flattery?

Do you feel uncomfortable when someone else is appreciate instead of you?

Have you surrounded yourself with those who are always eager to sing your praise?

Do you hate anyone who corrects you?

Don’t you always do your things without asking for God’s help? Are you always right?

If you answer yes to any of these questions, you may be growing in pride. Repent. Give glory to God for all you are and all you have.

Talk to Your Father.
Father, I humble myself under your mighty hand. I acknowledge that you grace has made me what I am and has given me all I have. I refuse to ascribe greatness to myself. Glory to your name! Amen.

Your Friend,

Deon

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For further study, read Daniel 4:29-37.
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© DailyVotions by Deon Akintomide.