Acts 12:22-23 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.
It was a dreadful end to a wicked leader. One moment,
Herod Antipas was being lauded as a god by his supporters for a rousing speech,
the next he was dying from a painful parasite which was taken to be a punishment
from God. He who once was mighty and powerful was debased and diminished
because of his vanity and pride. Instead of being hailed as the kingly champion
of the people, Herod is remembered as an amoral schemer whose downfall was
brought about by his own narcissistic tendencies and delusions of grandeur.
This all took place at the same time when the fledgling
Christian church was beginning to grow substantially. Herod’s influence was waning
whereas that of Christ and His followers were increasing rapidly. The bold
Galilean, whom Herod interviewed and sent to His death, would now be praised
and lauded for centuries to come. Antipas, however, would remain in the past –
along with all of his achievements, buildings, and decisions.
Good leadership is a gift from God and those who are in
positions of power – whether in our congregations or communities – should acknowledge
God’s presence in their endeavors, accomplishments, and success. To claim those
things as self-made is to rob God of His glory, something which Herod Antipas
learned way too late.
Point to ponder
What leadership responsibilities have I been given? Do
I thank God enough for any of my successes?
Prayer: Lord
Jesus, help us to remember that everything belongs to God, especially our own
victories and successes, achievements and accomplishments. Keep us mindful of the many blessings that You
grant in order for us to fulfill our dreams. In Your Holy Name, we humbly and
thankfully pray. Amen.
John Stuart is the pastor
of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you have any questions
or comments about today’s message, please send him an email to Traqair@aol.com.
You can also read the
church website at www.erinpresbyterian.org.
Today’s image is one of
John’s chess drawings called ‘Celtic King.’ If you would like to view a larger
version, please click this link: King.
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