MEMORISE: Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD… Proverbs 16:5
BIBLE READING: Hebrews 12:5-8
5 And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him:
6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.
7 If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?
8 But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.
MESSAGE:
God hates pride. The moment you become proud, you will begin to provoke God. Never forget that no matter how successful or influential you become in life, God is still the Highest.
God usually deals with proud people in two ways. The first way is by removing such a person from the earth suddenly and in a disgraceful manner, as seen in Acts 12:20-24.
King Herod’s pride made him consent to being compared to the Most High, which led to his sudden death. In one moment, Herod was sitting on his throne majestically; the next moment, he was being eaten by worms.
God could also decide to disgrace a proud fellow openly but preserve his or her life, as we see in the case of King Nebuchadnezzar in Daniel 4:28-37. My dear child, be careful not to allow pride into your life. A proud fellow has God as his or her contender. Do not contend with God.
Quiz: Nebuchadnezzar’s punishment for pride was_______
REFLECTION:
Are there elements of pride in your heart?
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
Song 5:1-8:14, 2 Corinthians 9:1-15