“That rotten guy—He sure deserved it!”

So on a set day Herod, arrayed in royal apparel, sat on his throne and gave an oration to them. And the people kept shouting, "The voice of a god and not of a man!" Then immediately an angel of the Lord struck him, because he did not give glory to God. And he was eaten by worms and died. But the word of God grew and multiplied.
Acts 12:21-24

When we read of God killing Herod Agrippa I on the spot for his blasphemous arrogance (people adulated him as God!) what do we think?

“That rotten guy—He sure deserved it!”

Or when we think of false teachers and self-centered politicians or celebrities, might we ever wonder, “Why doesn’t God do that today—to them!?”

How often does it occur to us that we are likewise also guilty of pride?  Maybe not as dramatically.  Maybe not as overtly blasphemously—though all pride exalts self is blasphemous, to a degree.  Could it also be pride that assumes my pride isn’t as bad as another’s?

It is interesting that the Word of God grew and multiplied after Herod’s dramatic death.  How much more might the Word of God grow and be multiplied if we humbled ourselves before God as much as Herod exalted Himself.

Lord, may I not think more highly of myself than I ought (Romans 12:3).  May the Word of God grow and be multiplied in our day and age—however You may be pleased to accomplish it.