Flourishing Word
Opening Prayer
God, may Your Word take deep root and grow in my life today.
Read Acts 12:19b–25
19 After Herod had a thorough search made for him and did not find him, he cross-examined the guards and ordered that they be executed.
Herod’s Death
Then Herod went from Judea to Caesarea and stayed there. 20 He had been quarreling with the people of Tyre and Sidon; they now joined together and sought an audience with him. After securing the support of Blastus, a trusted personal servant of the king, they asked for peace, because they depended on the king’s country for their food supply.
21 On the appointed day Herod, wearing his royal robes, sat on his throne and delivered a public address to the people. 22 They shouted, “This is the voice of a god, not of a man.” 23 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.
24 But the word of God continued to spread and flourish.
Barnabas and Saul Sent Off
25 When Barnabas and Saul had finished their mission, they returned from Jerusalem, taking with them John, also called Mark.
New International Version (NIV)
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
How do you see God’s values being upheld (or not) in recent world events?The historical events described in today’s reading are confirmed by a non-Christian source outside the Bible. The Jewish historian Josephus describes the death of Herod in Antiquities in such similar terms that he and Luke are clearly recording the same event.
The rise to power and subsequent demise of a human leader will have some impact on their people. Their influence can live on for a time, and their memory can be perpetuated in statues and grand buildings. Ultimately, however, they are as fragile and temporary as grass which grows up and then withers away (Psa. 90:5,6).
Unlike such figures, the quiet, steady work of God endures (24). Notice how Luke describes this. It was the Word of God which spread and flourished. The Word was more than words on a page, although Scripture has been central to the flourishing of the church through the centuries. It was when the Word became flesh that God broke into history with decisive power. Today we know him, not because of great memorials bearing his name, but because he lives in our hearts and flourishes through our lives lived in his service.
Apply
Do you pray for your leaders, civic and otherwise, that they would honor God in their lives, as we are commanded (1 Tim. 2:2)?
Closing prayer
Take this time now to pray for those leaders. If needed, ask God to make your heart right towards them.
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