It's Not About Us

Herod Agrippa was not a nice guy—he killed James the brother of John and imprisoned Peter—but he was important. He was the grandson of Herod the Great. 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!" (v. 22). Herod just soaked it all in. But God was not impressed, and he struck down Herod on the spot.

What made Herod's crime so serious as to merit such swift retribution? The Bible says it was because he did not give God the glory. No one may mistake you and me for gods, but we are tempted just like Herod to seek our own fame and not the Lord's. But it's not about us. 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 good about ourselves. God does not exist for us; we exist for him—and for his glory.

Prayer: Not to us, O Lord, but to your name be glory. Amen.

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