Focus: Acts 10:25-26 - KJV
25. And as Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him, and fell down at his feet, and worshipped him. 26. But Peter took him up, saying, Stand up; I myself also am a man.
Revelations 22:8-9
There is an ongoing thing amongst believers which is not meant to be. Many followers in the Christian faith are made to believe they are subservient to their leaders and therefore should adore and worship them, “being their mentor(s) or father(s) in the Lord”. Indeed, there is even the contest as to whether it is right to have fathers or just a father in the Lord. Incidentally, the way of Christ is that we have only one father, the Lord Himself and that we are all brethren. Hence, the idea of father in the Lord is not one sanctioned by Christ. If there be no father in the Lord, how then can it be right that we worship leaders and transfer the allegiance owed to God to such leaders? Peter, to whom the Lord handed the control of the Church, qualified more than anyone else to be so venerated, but turned such down when Cornelius attempted it.
Also, when the beloved John, assuming because the angel that gave him a message to the world is of God and thereby, he deserves worship, gestured to worship him; but he was restrained from doing so. Such restraint was necessary knowing that the Lord shares not His glory with anyone. Herod was called an orator and because of his oratory was praised to the extent of being said to speak as God. He did not live to see the next sunlight. In essence, anyone that presents himself to be venerated of men in the place of God, puts himself in the danger of the devil’s destruction because as the enemy moves against him, he will discover that the Lord is not on his side as he has positioned himself as God. Of course, he will be left to defend himself in that role. That is quite a dangerous position.
Beloved, it is the pride of life that makes man wants to be venerated by fellow men, and receive the honor due to God. Let us, consciously refuse to be worshipped by people who see us as God because we represent God. There are people, particularly women, who have no honor for their husbands at home but worship their pastors or heads of departments in Church to the chagrin of their husbands. Those so venerated are also not conscionable in that they enjoy the posture and readily demands it. This ought not to be encouraged amongst us. We should be deliberate, like Peter, in pointing believers to whom they should worship, and not stand to receive the honor due to God from anyone.
SOLUTION: You are no one’s father in the Lord. The fact that someone gets converted because you preached to him does not put you in the position of God who does the convicting in the first place. Steadfastly resist the temptation to supplant God before men.
Please pray: Father, I am sorry for having presented myself to receive the honor due to you from men, in times past; please forgive me in Jesus’ name. From this day, help me to be prompt in redirecting all acts of worship back to you to whom it belongs, in Jesus’ name. Do not allow the pride of life to rid me of the benefits of salvation in Jesus’ name.
If you are blessed by this post, kindly share with your contacts, as well as others, that they may be blessed also. Thank you and may God bless you abundantly as you do so, in Jesus’ name.
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