"no other gods"
"They shouted frantically, 'We are only men, human like you.' " —Acts 14:15
The first and most basic temptations are to try to be like gods (Gn 3:5), or even to try to be gods. For example, Peter refused to be treated like a god (Acts 10:26), while Herod accepted the title "god" (Acts 12:22-23). Herod, therefore, "died eaten by worms" (Acts 12:23). When Paul and Barnabas heard the crowd calling them gods by the names of "Hermes" and "Zeus," they realized how dangerous this temptation was. "They tore their garments and rushed out into the crowd" in order to correct the people's mistaken attribution of divinity to them (Acts 14:14-15). Contrary to what some cults teach, we are not gods.
Rather than each of us becoming one of the gods, God became one of us. He became a human being. Instead of making us man-gods, He became the God-Man. In this way, we don't become God, but we can have a share in His divine nature (2 Pt 1:4) and "become the very holiness of God" (2 Cor 5:21). We can even have God, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, make Their dwelling place within us (Jn 14:23). We are not gods; we are tabernacles and temples of God (1 Cor 6:19).
Be yourself. Be a human being transformed by the indwelling God.
Prayer: Father, with power may I bear witness for Your risen Son (see Acts 4:33).
Promise: "This much have I told you while I was still with you; the Paraclete, the Holy Spirit Whom the Father will send in My name, will instruct you in everything, and remind you of all that I told you." —Jn 14:25-26
Praise: When his wife became permanently bed-ridden, Alfred counted his blessings and was as loving a husband as ever.
Reference: (For a related teaching, order our tape on Following the World (Spiritual Adultery) on audio AV 53-1 or video V-53.)
Rescript: †Most Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Auxiliary Bishop, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, October 30, 2013
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