The Glory Due His Name

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

—Acts 12:21-23

There are certain people who deserve honor and recognition. In the movie version of Harper Lee’s “To Kill A Mockingbird,” the lawyer Atticus Finch, played by Gregory Peck, is leaving the courtroom after losing in court in a completely racially prejudiced trial. Recognizing his sacrifice, the African Americans who had been forced to watch the trial from the upper gallery wait until the room is clear and only Atticus is left. It is then that the Reverend Sykes, who had been sitting with Atticus’ daughter Jean Louise, stands up, along with everyone else in the gallery, and says to her, “Jean Louise, Stand up. Your father’s passin.”

It was a poetic display of appreciation and their way of honoring him for what he did and tried to do. Although he didn’t win, his willingness to fight for someone across racial lines, and make such a heroic sacrifice merited their honor. The Bible says that we are to:

“Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed”—Romans 13:7.

All things considered, we must give God the glory due His name. In today’s passage, Herod didn’t give God the glory and suffered death because of it. Men called out to him in praise and adoration going so far as to call him a god, but he was no god. There is only one God and He will not give His glory to another (Isaiah 42:8; 48:11).

Giving God glory is serious business for it means recognizing Him for who He is and what He has done. To take glory upon ourselves which was to only be given to God is to try and take the place of Deity and place ourselves on par with God.

Instead, we must take a more humble approach and realize that He is God and we are not. He is the one who has fashioned us for Himself, He is the one who holds our life and breath in His hands, and He is the one for whom all creation exists. Are you honoring God as God in your life? Or have you taken credit for His work? Give to God the glory due His name by recognizing His proper place, making every effort to bring praise and adoration to Him—for His glory and our joy. Amen.