Topic: Pride Goes Before A Fall.
Bible Reading: Zephaniah 1-3; Revelation 15
Memory Verse: “This is the rejoicing city that dwelt carelessly, that said in her heart, I am, and there is none beside me: how is she become a desolation, a place for beasts to lie down in! every one that passeth by her shall hiss, and wag his hand.” Zephaniah 2:15 (KJV)
One of the worst sins anyone can commit is to be proud and several people unfortunately fall into it because the flesh craves for it. And this has led to the destruction of several people. Proverbs 16:18 (KJV) says, “Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.”
It is Pride that brought Satan down from its high place in heaven. Isaiah 14:12-13 KJV says “How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! [13] For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north:” Now that Satan is in hell, he’s looking for more people to take with him. And using the attraction of the material things of life and various positions, it becomes easy for Satan to get a lot of people to his side.
Pride of life makes people to think highly of themselves and often lead them to become over-confident. This is why 1 Corinthians 10:12 (KJV) admonishes Christians saying, “Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.” It is overconfidence that made Nebuchadnezzar to be turned to a beast after his prideful comments. Often it is the ego to show that you are better than others that lead to making utterances or taking actions that are full of pride. To mitigate this flesh demand, the Bible says in Philippians 2:3 (KJV), “Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.” It is important to note that God knows both what you say in your heart as well as those you utter in words. Thus our memory verse tells us about Nineveh in Zephaniah 2:15 (KJV), “This is the rejoicing city that dwelt carelessly, that said in her heart, I am, and there is none beside me: how is she become a desolation, a place for beasts to lie down in! every one that passeth by her shall hiss, and wag his hand.”
What are you boastful of? Your position or material things acquired? Remember there is nothing you have by your strength only. It is all by the grace of God and you should be thankful to him at all times and give him glory for them. If you want to remain a child of God, be humble all the times so that God will not resist you (James 4:6). And certainly no one can stand the resistance of God!
Prayer: Father please give me the grace to remain humble for the rest of my life in the mighty name of Jesus Christ.
Bro. Biodun Oyapero