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On the Acts of the Apostles |
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"On the appointed day Herod, wearing his royal robes, sat on his throne and delivered a public address to the people. They shouted, "This is the voice of a god, not of a man." Immediately, because Herod did not give praise to God, an angel of the Lord struck him down, and he was eaten by worms and died. But the word of God continued to increase and spread." NIV
Acts 12 ought to sober us to the reality of what happens when we take glory that belongs to God. God is extremely jealous for his Deity. When we take credit for things that properly belong to God, we rob Him. We might not end up being eaten up by worms on the spot, but it is still a mighty offence to Him.
We actually have a very similar situation to Acts 12 going on in Acts 14, when the city of Lystra decided Paul and Barnabas were gods come down from Olympus. However, they had a very different attitude and reaction than Herod, and therefore a very different outcome. They ran out into the crowd, tearing their hair and clothes, and finally got them to stop and listen to the gospel. Paul and Barnabas were not eaten by worms: they gave glory where it belongs. Let us remember to give glory to whom it properly belongs -- to God.