DCLM Daily Manna 2023: DCLM Daily Manna 15 May 2024: Brought Down By Pride
KEY VERSE: Acts 12:1 “Now about that time Herod the king stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the church.”
TEXT: Acts 12:1-5,18-24 (KJV)
About that time Herod the king stretched forth his hands to afflict and oppress and torment some who belonged to the church (assembly).
2 And he killed James the brother of John with a sword;
3 And when he saw that it was pleasing to the Jews, he proceeded further and arrested Peter also. This was during the days of Unleavened Bread [the Passover week].
4 And when he had seized [Peter], he put him in prison and delivered him to four squads of soldiers of four each to guard him, purposing after the Passover to bring him forth to the people.
5 So Peter was kept in prison, but fervent prayer for him was persistently made to God by the church (assembly).
18 Now as soon as it was day, there was no small disturbance among the soldiers over what had become of Peter.
19 And when Herod had looked for him and could not find him, he placed the guards on trial and commanded that they should be led away [to execution]. Then [Herod] went down from Judea to Caesarea and stayed on there.
20 Now [Herod] cherished bitter animosity and hostility for the people of Tyre and Sidon; and [their deputies] came to him in a united body, and having made Blastus the king’s chamberlain their friend, they asked for peace, because their country was nourished by and depended on the king’s [country] for food.
21 On an appointed day Herod arrayed himself in his royal robes, took his seat upon [his] throne, and addressed an oration to them.
22 And the assembled people shouted, It is the voice of a god, and not of a man!
23 And at once an angel of the Lord smote him and cut him down, because he did not give God the glory (the preeminence and kingly majesty that belong to Him as the supreme Ruler); and he was eaten by worms and died.
24 But the Word of the Lord [concerning the attainment through Christ of salvation in the kingdom of God] continued to grow and spread.
The kings and rulers of this world hardly realize that because they are “ordained of God”, they are expected to mirror His qualities correspondingly. The Lord is Lord over all rulers. He loves peace, mercy, righteousness and has compassion for all. His justice is without partiality and His general goodwill is to all His creatures. He is not like an ill-tempered monarch taking pleasure in misery, disorder and violence among His subjects.
Herod was destitute of these characteristics. He proved he did not deserve his exalted seat as he ran riot, imprisoning and extra-judicially murdering innocent citizens in Jerusalem, notably the followers of Jesus Christ. Not satisfied with killing James the brother of John, he went ahead to arrest Apostle Peter. He imprisoned him, deferring his fate to a later time. Now, God did not only outwit Herod by miraculously freeing Peter but also slew him for his pride.
The King of kings and His saints will always have the upper hand when arrogant lesser lords decide to go against His will. If these mere mortals refuse to acknowledge that the power they have is derived from heaven and that they are not to be oppressive, the greater Power steps in to annul their authority and deliver their victims. God never allows them extra space to desecrate the throne and position He allows them to hold in trust.
As believers, we should not fret when wicked rulers appear to be triumphing in their wickedness. Even if we are harassed by the authorities and their agents. We should maintain our peace as we live for the Lord and serve Him faithfully. We should have faith in His word that He will not hesitate to put an end to the evil system of the world.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: Every reign of wickedness comes with an expiry date.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: 2 Samuel 9-11
Thank you for studying today’s Daily Manna – Brought Down By Pride – by Pastor W.F Kumuyi
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Daily Manna 15 May 2024
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