Introduction: Truthfully, have you ever thought more highly of yourself than you ought to… your accomplishments, your family, job, money, spiritual knowledge or possessions? Probably so. Most of us have, unfortunately!

But the opposite of self-righteous pride is humility. In our devotion today, a prideful man robs God of the glory He deserves and pays a high price. 

1. Who was Herod Agrippa 1? (Acts 12:20)

Here is a quote from Wikipedia:

“Agrippa I (Hebrew: אגריפס), was the last Jewish king of Judea. He was a grandson of Herod the Great and the father of Herod Agrippa II, the last known king from the Herodian dynasty. He was acquaintance or friend of Roman emperors and even played crucial roles in internal Roman politics.”

Needless to say, he was a politician – a prideful one at that.

2. Herod makes a public speech. (Acts 12:21)

“And upon a set day Herod, arrayed in royal apparel, sat upon his throne, and made an oration unto them.”

The word “oration” is δημηγορέω: (day-may-gor-eh’-o), which means to make a public speech, address a multitude.

3. Peer pressure and pride was his downfall! (Acts 12:22)

“And the people gave a shout, saying, It is the voice of a god, and not of a man.”

No doubt this stroked his ego. But much like when a balloon is overinflated and ultimately burst, Herod Agrippa was overinflated with self gratification. 

4. Like a balloon that bursts, Herod’s egotistical self-dependency and glorying in the flesh came to an abrupt end! (Acts 12:23)

“And immediately the angel of the Lord smote him, because he gave not God the glory: and he was eaten of worms, and gave up the ghost.”

God will not share His glory with another. 

Conclusion: The conclusion remains today. Either we give God the glory or we rob Him of His rightful praise. Which is it going be today for you and me?