Good Monday to everyone. I pray that you had a relaxing and restful weekend. I so enjoyed being with God's people worshipping and fellowshipping with God Almighty on Sundays.
Before you get to deep into this week ask yourself these question - "What did God speak to my heart that is still resonating within?" "Are there any areas in my life that I need to focus on and hone in on for this week?" If nothing comes to mind, perhaps it would be good to stop and listen to Lord's whisper to your heart and allow God to do some amazing things with you this week.
I read the following verse this morning in my devotionals which begs the question "What Does The Lord Delight In?"
Thus says the Lord : “Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the Lord.” (Jeremiah 9:23-24 ESV)
The problem that most of us deal with in our lives is listed in v.23 - it is the sin of boasting or pride. We boast in our might and in our riches. We have placed a certain confidence in our ability to take care of things and God wants us to turn it around and boast in His ability and to totally trust in Him to lead us and guide us.
He declares bodly in v.24 - "For in these things I delight." Basically, that we would know and trust in The Lord.
As I look back over my many years of ministry - pride is an area that I have to constantly deal with. Yet, and thankfully, God doesn't allow me to go very far with that type of thinking - He knows how to pull the rug on me and get me back down on my knees with a repentant heart of reliance and need to Him.
I read different authors and many genre's of literature and books and I have been fascinated over the years about the writtings of the Puritans as they helped develop a formation for theology.
There is one author named William Secker who wrote the book "The Consistent Christian" in 1660 who writes an ariticle called "The Peacock Of Pride."
If you know anything about peacocks - they can strut their feathers and put off quite the show. Is that not like many of as Christians?
Read this article and let me know how it fits into your life.
THE PEACOCK OF PRIDE
(William Secker, "The Consistent Christian" 1660)
He is the most lovely Christian--who is the most lowly Christian. As incense smells the sweetest when it is beaten smallest--so saints look loveliest when they lie lowest. God will not allow such a weed as pride to grow in His garden, without taking some course to root it up.
Pride is a sinner's torment--but humility is a saint's ornament. "Be clothed with humility." The garment of humility--should always be worn on the back of Christianity. Where humility is the corner-stone--there glory shall be the top-stone.
God many times places a thorn in the flesh--to pierce the balloon of pride. He makes us feel a sense of our misery--that we may sue for His unmerited mercy. The first Adam was for self-advancement--but the second Adam is for self-abasement. The former was for having SELF deified--the latter is for having SELF crucified.
We live--by dying to ourselves; and die--by living to ourselves. There is no proud man--who is not a foolish man; and scarcely is there any foolish man--who is not a proud man. It is the night-owl of ignorance, which broods and hatches the peacock of pride.
"I hate pride and arrogance!" Proverbs 8:13. God abhors those people worst--who adore themselves most. Pride is not a Bethel--that is, a house where God dwells; but a Babel--that is, a stinking dungeon in which Satan abides. Pride is not only a most hateful evil--but it is a radical evil. As all other lusts are found lodging in it--so they are found springing from it. Pride is a foul leprosy, in the face of morality; and a hurtful worm, gnawing at the root of humility. Pride is a cancer within, and a spreading plague without!
"Clothe yourselves with humility, because God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble." 1 Peter 5:5
May God speak to each of us in regards to this sin of pride. May we content to walk humbly before God in whatever we do. May God rid us of this ugly disease and allow to totally depend upon Him. Our prayer should be of complete reliance upon His grace and mercy in our lives. May completely eradicate that which doesn't belong to Him but belongs to us. May we learn what it is to walk "humbly" with Him today and everyday. Amen.
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