God Resists the Proud: Gospel Today Devotional - 22nd December, 2023

KNOWING GOD SERIES

The proud in heart cannot please God, why? Because such a one would seem to esteem himself better than others, and this is that which the Lord does not like. He doesn't like those who are proud in heart. The proud in heart will not want to even seek God when he goes astray. His high mindedness  would not make him see coming to God as the only way to be redeemed. The proud in heart has no regards for the things of God neither does he delight in following the Lord's instruction. The proud in heart despise those who he considers to be lower than him, and he thinks of himself more highly than he should think. He places himself in a position where God has not placed him forgetting that it is God who exalts a man.

God Resists the Proud: Gospel Today Devotional - 22nd December, 2023

Jesus gave a parable in scripture where he admonished that if one is invited to a feast, he should seek not to take the upper seats first, why? Because someone greater than him may come, and then asked to leave the place for such a person which would cause shame, and disgrace (paraphrased). In other words, Jesus was saying don't think of yourself more highly than you should else you would be disgraced. Pride brings reproach. It is not God's nature. If God resists the proud, it means one thing, that nature of pride is not in God.

Today, we shall be looking into this carefully. God does not possess the nature of pride, and since that is not his nature, he hates to see this nature in people. Pride has eaten into the heart of many people that they think they no longer need God and other people in their lives. It is my prayer that the Lord himself would help us. Shall we consider our anchor texts below?

"But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble" (James 4:6)". Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble" ( 1 Peter 5:5).

How do we know that pride is not a nature found in God? Jesus the Son of God while on earth revealed that nature of God. The book of Philippians chapter 2 explains that although he was in the form of God, he didn't see it as an opportunity to be equal with God but he made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant. This is humility in display. God not seeing himself as God but as a servant, and was obedient to the Father unto the death of the cross. Many people do not even have this, and yet pride has eaten deep into their flesh. The word of God comes to you today. He resists the proud.

The scripture says that Jesus and the Father are  one, right? If Jesus who came as the express image of the invisible God didn't have that nature of pride but defined to us humility, it means to say that God the Father is not proud. Pride is not one of God's nature. Little wonder he was able to be obedient to the death of the cross simply because he was humble, and to the humble, God gives grace. While it is that the God resists the proud, he gives grace to the humble. Those who are proud will be disgraced but those who are humble will be exalted. Jesus being humble was exalted. He brought himself low but God brought him up, how?

The scripture says that God exalted him highly by giving a name above every other name such that when his name is mentioned, knees bow, and tongues confess that he is Lord. Glory to God. We are children of God, and just as pride is not God's nature, it should not be seen in us. Let's not think of ourselves more highly that we ought to think. Let's not treat others with contempt, and that we humble ourselves under the mighty hand of God that he may exalt us in due time because God resists the proud but exalts the humble. May this word stay ever fresh in our hearts. Amen. 

Thought for the day

He who is proud will be disgraced, and he who is humble will be exalted. God resists the proud but gives grace, and exalts the humble.

Gospel Today is a comforting, exhorting, edifying and inspiring devotional published by the Delightsome Land Christian Ministry. For questions, enquiries/testimonies, please call/WhatsApp: 08174915361, 08053662272 or Email: [email protected].

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