Examine your heart lest any pride be found!
*The Lord detest the proud; they will surely be punished.* Proverbs 16:5
Pride> conceit, vanity, ego, haughtiness, and self love. Pride leads to rebellion against God.
It was the sin of pride that led Lucifer to rebel against God, resulting in the sin filled, pride dominated world we live in today. Lucifer wanted to be God. He took it to far but, aren't we all a bit like him when we try to do things our own way, without consulting God. Pride is what Satan used in the garden of Eden to tempt Eve . It wasn't the taste of the fruit he used but, he appealed to her pride "you will be like God".
If we do not humble ourselves on our own , then God will humble us. Isaiah 2:17 says *And the pride of man will be humbled, and the loftiness will be abased (brought down),and the Lord Himself will be exalted that day! When we become proud, we want to trust in our own wisdom and strength. But, God wants our complete dependance on Him.
As much as God hates pride, He loves the humble.
humble > lowly, meek , modest etc. Numbers 12:3 says* Now Moses was a very humble man- more humble than any other person on the earth.*
Rabbi Hillel said > Take your seat a little below the one due to you, for it is better to be told "Come up," than to be told "Go down". In the scriptures you will find that God himself shows us the example of true humilty. For example: God revealed himself in a bush to teach us that even the most exalted may be found in the lowliest of places.
In Leviticus 23:27b we see that God insists that each person humble themselves before bringing their offering to the altar and receiving forgiveness.* you shall humble your souls and present an offering by fire to the Lord.*. and verse 29 says * If there is any person who does not humble themselves on this same day, they shall be cut off from their people.*
In Deuteronomy 8:2 it says *Remember how the Lord your God led you all the way in the desert these forty years, to humble you and to test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep His commands.* It must have been humbling for them to have to depend on God for everything. But, that is what God desires of us all.
In 2 Chronicles 7:14 we read a scripture that has been quoted over and over again many times and many places. But, have we really paid much attention to what words we are actually quoting? We pray constantly for our country to be healed , when just maybe we are missing the key part of that verse. * If my people , which are called by my name, will HUMBLE themselves, and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways , then I will hear from heaven and heal their land.* If we expect God to heal our country then we need to humble ourselves before we seek his face .
In Micah 6:8 God shows us very clearly what He desires and expects of us. *He has shown you O man , what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.*
We need to examine our hearts , and make sure there is no pride to be found within it.
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