DATE: Sunday 12 July 2026
TOPIC: “LESSONS FROM THE FOOLS”
TEXT: Acts 12:19-23, Rom. 1:20-32
MEMORY VERSE: “The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, their deeds are vile; there is no one who does good” – Psalms 14:1.
King Herod was taught the lesson not to take the glory that belongs to God for himself. He was such a powerful King. He had many subjects who depended on him for survival. Acts 12:20. The people literally placed him in the place of God as their provider and sustainer. Therefore, God said that he (Herod,) was not.
When people praise us because of certain results we get and for successes that we achieve, it can be a trap if we do not point them intentionally to God who helped us to achieve it in the first place. We must resist the temptation to be pushed into the pit of destruction by praise singers and ‘grateful people.’ We must always remember that we are but clay in the hands of the Potter.
Paul and Barnabas resisted the temptation of taking God’s glory when the people wanted to worship them because of the miracle they performed. (Acts 14:9-15). We must resist the temptation of taking credit when people are trying to project us and not our God. We must remember that God will not share his glory with any man. (Isaiah 42:8)
Romans 1:20-32 describes the way God treats those who refuse to acknowledge him. God deserves all the praise and He is to be exalted above all. When this is deliberately set aside and not done, God will make such a people an experiment of foolishness and vanity. When God withdraws his support from a man, he becomes empty and will be allowed to do what is not convenient.
Abandoning God for a lie and chasing after the mundane rather than chasing after righteousness will lead to a life of frustration and wild vanity. We must be wise and not think that we can remove God from any accomplishment or success. He deserves all the glory at all times through a life gratitude and obedience.
PRAYER: Gracious and eternal father, help me to always point men to you and give you all the glory due to your name. I resist any temptation to steal your glory in Jesus’ name, Amen.