A Contrast In Attitudes
Categories: Church of Christ Bulletin Articles Tags: Bible Lessons on AttitudesIn Acts 12:20-23, we read of King Herod delivering an oration to an audience eager to win his favor. He reveled in their flattering response:
“The voice of a god and not of a man!” (Acts 12:22 – NKJV).
For his failure to “give glory to God,” he was immediately struck by an angel of the Lord. He suffered an excruciating death because of his irreverent attitude toward God (Acts 12:23 – NKJV).
In contrast, Paul and Barnabas had such a great reverence for God, that the mere thought of being worshipped, was foreign to them (Acts 14:14-15). Upon seeing the apostle Paul miraculously heal a man who had been crippled from birth (Acts 14:8-10), the onlookers shouted:
“The gods have come down to us in the likeness of men!” (Acts 14:11 – NKJV).
Then they prepared to offer sacrifices to Paul and Barnabas (Acts 14:12-13). When the apostles heard this, they “tore their clothes and ran in among the multitude, crying out and saying, “Men, why are you doing these things?” (Acts 14:14-15 – NKJV). Their attitude was one of awe, respect, and humble submission before a sovereign God.
In these two accounts, we see two contrasting attitudes toward God. We see a solemn call to give God reverence in our irreverent world. He is the only one who merits our worship “” He only is worthy of glory, praise, and honor (Revelation 5:13-14 – NKJV).