Revelation 19:10 At this I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me, “Do not do it! I am a fellow servant with you and with your brothers who hold to the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.”

It is quite understandable that when the angel had just spoken what he himself had called “the true words of God” that, in the overwhelming emotions of the moment, John would have prostrated himself before the angel. That’s why it’s vitally important that this verse is in the Bible. The point is, it doesn’t matter how perfectly any individual might be used by God, that individual is not to be worshiped, God is. However, human beings have a long history of worshiping other human beings. It is sadly appropriate that popular performers today are called “idols.” Muslim attitudes toward Mohammed are an extreme example, when even a cursory reading of the Koran shows that he was hardly an exemplary human being. Another example that hits closer to home is the Catholic veneration of Mary. Formal Catholic doctrine says she is never to be worshiped, but in practical terms, huge numbers of Catholics do worship her. She would say the same thing this angel did! We tend to be in awe of people who prophesy, so the last part of the angel’s statement bears close attention. Any true prophecy, that is, speaking out what God is saying, will lift up Jesus and draw people to Him. Conversely, anyone who is genuinely testifying of Jesus is, in a sense, prophesying, because they are speaking God’s heart.

This is a subject very close to me in a number of ways. Because of my family background, I rubbed shoulders with a lot of genuinely great Christians, with E. Stanley Jones and Merrell Vories both staying in our home when they came through the area. I know first hand that every human being is just that, a human being, however much they might be used by God. Pastors indeed have authority from God to govern and shepherd their congregations, but they must never lord it over others, nor allow themselves to be placed on pedestals. That tendency has done a great deal of harm to the Church over the centuries, and continues to do so today. Paul points out repeatedly that leaders are worthy of respect, but neither the leaders nor those they lead must ever forget that we are all servants together of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Father, thank You for this reminder. Thank You for the way You taught me early on about the humanity of great men. Help me be fully available for You to do through me all that You desire, whether that gets me any recognition from people or not. Help me give others the respect they are due. And keep me from allowing any idolatry directed toward me. Thank You. Praise God!