PRIDE GOES BEFORE A FALL

A ministry in Lexington, KY (my hometown) produced cassette messages and always had a sticker: "Worry slanders the promises of God." Today, while reading that a prophet, "Agabus, stood up and spoke with the help of the Holy Spirit, 'A very hard time is coming to the whole world. There will be no food to eat.' [This happened when Claudius ruled] (Acts 11:28)," I found myself challenged not to be worried not so much about a shortage of food, but the cost of food and other so-called necessities we as Americans have grown used to enjoying.

That prophecy got my attention especially in light of what is happening across the world in these "modern" times. I was then even more amazed when I read on that "during that same time King Herod began to mistreat some who belonged to the church." and "Later Herod moved from Judea and went to the city of Caesarea, where he stayed. Herod was very angry with the people of Tyre and Sidon, but the people of those cities all came in a group to him. After convincing Blastus, the king's personal servant, to be on their side, they asked Herod for peace, because their country got its food from his country."

"On a chosen day Herod put on his royal robes, sat on his throne, and made a speech to the people. They shouted, 'This is the voice of a god, not a human!' Because Herod did not give the glory to God, an angel of the Lord immediately caused him to become sick, and he was eaten by worms and died."

The scripture goes on matter-of-factly to say that "God's message continued to spread and reach the people." Well, YES!!!

In a simpler time, God intervened when a leader of the people was so arrogant as to accept human adoration! A part of me wants to pray that these oil-laden offspring of Abraham become arrogant as they extract exorbitant prices for a gallon of that liquid gold, yet I'm not even convinced that our own leaders may not be participating in this robbery of the common man. Whatever the case may be...one thing is certain! GOD SEES! Therefore, if withholding 'food' from people and then feeling good about it, led to Herod's demise....then I can only EXPECT God to judge our world situation to His satisfaction. Angels are still around and they are strong :>)

I do ask that we pray about this entire situation, however...especially that GOD, WHO SEES, will also JUDGE!