The Humble and the Proud

 DEVOTION

THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES

THE HUMBLE AND THE PROUD

Acts 12:18-25

18 In the morning, there was no small commotion among the soldiers as to what had become of Peter. 19 After Herod had a thorough search made for him and did not find him, he cross-examined the guards and ordered that they be executed. Then Herod went from Judea to Caesarea and stayed there a while. 20 He had been quarreling with the people of Tyre and Sidon; they now joined together and sought an audience with him. Having secured the support of Blastus, a trusted personal servant of the king, they asked for peace, because they depended on the king's country for their food supply. 21 On the appointed day Herod, wearing his royal robes, sat on his throne and delivered a public address to the people. 22 They shouted, "This is the voice of a god, not of a man." 23 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. 24 But the word of God continued to increase and spread. 25 When Barnabas and Saul had finished their mission, they returned from Jerusalem, taking with them John, also called Mark.

NIV

An evil man gets his just reward. Because no one could explain to Herod how Peter got out of the jail that was under heavy guard, he had the guards executed. Somebody had to be blamed and so because the guards were under the command of Herod, it was their fault and they must die. What is interesting, is the proud man will be made low, and the humble man will be lifted up. Luke records that when Herod gave his public address to the people, and they shouted that his voice was the voice of a god, he accepted their praise, which was a big mistake. Never, ever put oneself on any sort of pedestal whatsoever. Never think more highly of oneself than one should. There are many scriptures that speak to the issue of being humble before God and men, but Herod could not find any humility, but only knew pride, and it cost him his life in a very bizarre manner. If it was humiliating enough to be stuck down, unable to get up, but then have worms show up from nowhere and eat at your body until he died. What a horrible death even for such an evil man. On a lighter note, it is interesting before all this happened that the people of Tyre and Sidon although amid quarreling, came to the realization they needed peace with the king. They depended on Herod’s country for their food supply. Peace is always better than war, humility better than pridefulness and that is true with our relationship with God. Because of our faith in Jesus, we are at peace with God, and speaking from a very personal level, is a good thing, for Herod serves to show us what it means to not be at peace with God. It is all about giving praise to God for that which happens in our lives. How can we take any credit, when it is by the grace of God that we are alive and that we have eternal life? How can we take credit for any achievements when it is God who directs our path and enables us with his power to do that which he has called us to do? How can either a servant or a friend claim any glory for what their master does? Humility is always in style; pride always proceeds the fall.