PRIDE

We are enjoying observing the progressive development of our precious grandchild. Even before she could stand steadily, she attempted climbing! Isn't that a natural instinct every human being is born with? I suppose it is the fallen nature of man that pushes from within to lift himself up.

Don't we take every precaution to prevent our kids from climbing dangerous heights in order to protect them from falling and hurting themselves? The greater the height we climb, the greater the fall and greater the injury! The up-ride is exciting. It seems to put us above our rightful level of authority. From such a height we can look down on others and oh, the thrill of having others look up to us!

"Don't climb there!" Get down before you fall!!" As parents urgently warn their kids, so our Heavenly Father warns us. He brings us down graciously to protect us from a disastrous spiritual downfall. He lifts us up in His way in His time.

Knowing that our natural tendency is to go up, we need to diligently make every effort to come down humbling ourselves. The right way up goes down!

The proud heart is an abomination to the LORD. GOD resists the proud and destroys his house. The pride of life, wine and riches are of this world and cause strife and envy. Pride lifts up the heart and hardens the spirit and brings destruction. It is the attitude and way of Satan. It is totally contrary to the way of the LORD.

For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lewdness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within and defile a man." Mark 7:21-23

Everyone proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD; Though they join forces, none will go unpunished. Proverbs 16:5

A man's pride will bring him low, But the humble in spirit will retain honor. Proverbs 29:23

Pride goes before destruction, And a haughty spirit before a fall. Proverbs 16:18

The LORD will destroy the house of the proud, But He will establish the boundary of the widow. Proverbs 15:25

By pride comes nothing but strife, But with the well-advised is wisdom. Proverbs 13:10

The fear of the LORD is to hate evil; Pride and arrogance and the evil way And the perverse mouth I hate. Proverbs 8:13

Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world--the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life--is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever. 1 John 2:1-15-17

Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another. Galatians 5:26

Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy. Let them do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share, storing up for themselves a good foundation for the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life. 1 Timothy 6:17-19

Isaiah 14:12-15

"How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How you are cut down to the ground, You who weakened the nations! For you have said in your heart: 'I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will also sit on the mount of the congregation On the farthest sides of the north; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High.

' Yet you shall be brought down to Sheol, To the lowest depths of the Pit.

GOD humbles us if necessary through affliction to draw us to Himself and to give us victory over the enemy who is the king of all the children of pride!

 And you shall remember that the LORD your God led you all the way these forty years in the wilderness, to humble you and test you, to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep His commandments or not. So He humbled you, allowed you to hunger, and fed you with manna which you did not know nor did your fathers know, that He might make you know that man shall not live by bread alone; but man lives by every word that proceeds from the mouth of the LORD. Deuteronomy 8:2-3