Only God Can Be God

GETTING STARTED

A difficulty in living out my faith in Jesus is that I, all too often, allow circumstances to affect that relationship. In my pride, it seems easy for me to convince myself that my need for God is less when things are perceived or experienced to be good. Conversely, it seems that I more clearly recognize my need for God in the humility that comes when I’m struggling and things are very difficult. When things are “good” and I seem to convince myself of a more limited need for God, what I’m really doing is taking credit for things that can and should only be credited to God. The reality is that our God is active in our world through every event of our life, and our need for him is absolute in all things and at all times.

  • Pride will often ruin our focus and cause us to take credit for things, such as wisdom or talent, that we have received from God. Can you identify some things, events, or circumstances in your life where you have taken the credit for something you shouldn’t have?

READ THE WORD: ACTS 12:20-24 (ESV)

20 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. 21 On an appointed day Herod put on his royal robes, took his seat upon the throne, and delivered an oration to them. 22 And the people were shouting, “The voice of a god, and not of a man!” 23 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.

24 But the word of God increased and multiplied.

English Standard Version, copyright 2001 by Crossway Bibles. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

DIGGING DEEPER

  1. What was at risk for Tyre and Sidon?
  2. What can you surmise about the motives of the people of Tyre and Sidon (vs. 20); of Herod (vs. 21); of the people shouting (vs. 22)?
  3. What is the reason given for Herod’s death?
  4. In the midst of this strange event, what is highlighted above all (vs. 24)? Consider the implications of verse 24. Why do you suppose this was such an important outcome?
  5. In our pride, how might we attempt to rob God of his glory? In what ways do we take undeserved credit for things that truly only belong to God?

RESPOND TO GOD

These verses remind us of God’s active role in the advancement of his word. We see in the previous passage that Herod was a persecutor of the early church and greatly opposed the word of God, making all attempts to stifle it. From the world’s perspective, Herod seemed to have it all. Fame, power, and wealth were his in abundance; yet, Herod’s actions give an indication that his motives were not just to be the center of focus or attention, but to be worshiped. God put an end to Herod’s life, stopping his persecution, when Herod sought and accepted glory that only belongs to God. And we know that because of God’s intervention, the gospel went forth in power. To God alone be the glory.

  • Celebrate the God who chooses to claim you as his own, who is ever-present in your very life, and who is working in and through every event of your life.
  • Pray that you have an increasing understanding, day by day, of what it means to give God the glory in all things.