December 3rd
Checking the Tyre Pressure
The earth mourns and fades away, the world languishes and fades away; the haughty people of the earth languish. The earth is also defiled under its inhabitants, because they have transgressed the laws, changed the ordinance, broken the everlasting covenant. Isaiah 24:4-5
You've had this happen before. You're driving along, just like you always do, when a light flashes on your dash. Check oil, it says, and if you know what's good for you, you'll heed the warning before your engine seizes.
Everywhere you go, you see warnings. There's nothing mean about them. Actually, it's nice to have them; they're a friendly heads up to help us avoid pain. Warning: Hot coffee. Warning: Don't touch the power lines. Warning: Alarm will sound when you open this door.
God has a warning for us today. Warning: Check the pride gauge. What are you living for? Why are you trying to accumulate all that stuff? Who is it for?
The nature of pride is that it always wants to be honored before men, before its peers. But God wants us to be honorable before Him, and that's a big difference in the way we go about living our lives.
And really, God shows His faithfulness in warning us about it. He is faithful to remove those things from our lives with which He has to compete. Why does He compete against these things in our lives? Because He loves us! He knows that pride, lust, greed, and the things of this world would all destroy us, becoming the ruin of you and me.
There and then, instead of watching us destroy ourselves through terrible, worldly choices, He calls out a warning to us. Hey! Watch your pride there! Don't forget who made you and saved you! Come and live your life My way so that you can be safe!
Because you know what is going to happen to this world because of pride? It's going to be destroyed. Nothing will be left. The haughty, proud people of the world will be swept away. The only refuge will be for those who humbly confessed their need for God, who refused to do things their own way and instead trusted in and followed Him.
God knows what pride does. It destroys. But God wants better for us than destruction, lots better. In fact, Jeremiah tells us that His plans for us are for a hope and good future.
Humble yourself by coming to God today. Give your life to Him and let Him lead you into the good future He has planned.
Prayer Lord God,
Thank You that You warn me against the things that would destroy my life. I invite You to root these things out of my life and ask You to lead me into the good plans You have for me!
Amen