Day 148: The Con Artist Named Pride
Read: Psalm 10 'The Song Of Our Pride', Matthew 10:26-27
26 "Do not be afraid of those who may taunt or persecute you.
Everything they do—even if they think they are hiding behind closed
doors—will come to light. All their secrets will eventually be made
known. 27 And you should proclaim in the bright light of day everything
that I have whispered to you in the dark. Whatever whispers you
hear—shout them from the rooftops of houses." Matthew 10:26-27
I believe it is a great and marvelous thing that we were able to expose those things in life which taunt and persecute us. Even if they believe with a rock solid assurance that as long as they remain locked behind closed doors, even if they believe that they can evade detection by the very best radar or sonar system or Law Enforcement Agency, the fact remains that there is no such thing as the perfect lock, perfect door that will prevent them from making their own mistakes, becoming themselves, the source of their own downfall. So, today, I want to expose to you; “The Con Artist Named Pride.” Yes, this is a truly clever fellow. Yes, extraordinarily cunning and remarkably devious. You say "So What" "Big Deal".
What is a con artist anyway? A con artist is someone who is skilled and
experienced at devising and executing scams and other fraudulent
schemes. In worldly terms, the purpose is normally to get as much money
from a victim as possible, but to do so in a way the victim actually
believes they are getting a benefit. This is exactly how Pride works in
our lives. And I believe that the Con Artist Named Pride is even
craftier than any other professional Con Artists. He ever so slowly
creeps into our lives, makes us feel comfortable, befriends us, and all
the while his mind is focused only on taking as much of us to the
spiritual cleaners as he possibly can. There's no remorse or regret. It feeds and it consumes.
9 Ominously, like a crouching lion in its lair, he lurks in secret to
waylay those who are downtrodden. When he catches them, he draws them in
and drags them off with his net. 10 Quietly crouching, lying low, ready
to overwhelm the next by his strength, 11 The wicked thinks in his heart, “God has forgotten us! He has covered His face and will never notice!” Yes, our pride, like that crouching, hungry lion is
quietly lurking in his secret places, our hearts, our minds, our
spirits just waiting to pounce and eat us alive. It waits and lurks for
all races, gender, and economic classes. Pride is waiting to bring down
those hearts pitched against God. It has no remorse. It has no regret. It strike without announcing.
Some of you may be sitting out there thinking to yourself about how
this message will not apply to you because you tell yourself that you
are too good to allow pride to affect you and that you never have had
any problems with Pride because you are so different, so very much
better than everyone else. "Nope, not me, not today Mr. Lion." What
is pride? This Lion 'Pride' means to act arrogantly; possess a very high
opinion of ones worth, self-conceit. We admit, we all know people that
by their actions we would nominate them as prideful people. But let us
be careful because pride pounces upon the lives of every person
sometimes without being recognized until it's too late. Recognize then the Lion Of Judah.
Let Us
Pray: Lord God, You instruct Your people to listen carefully and ever
heed Your instruction because pride can cause the Lord's flock to be
taken captive, to being so easily deceived. Father, help me to
understand that the pride in my heart is deceiving me. Those who walk in
pride and arrogance, those who step into the Lion's Den, You are able
to humble. (Daniel 6:16 -25) Pour out Your mercy and grace upon me O
Lord that I can be this kind of person. Change my heart to be like
Yours Father! My Savior and Redeemer, help me to take Your yoke upon me
and learn from You, for You are gentle and humble in heart, and I will
find rest for my soul. In Jesus' name - Amen.
http://www.youtube.com/
Read: Psalm 10 'The Song Of Our Pride', Matthew 10:26-27
26 "Do not be afraid of those who may taunt or persecute you. Everything they do—even if they think they are hiding behind closed doors—will come to light. All their secrets will eventually be made known. 27 And you should proclaim in the bright light of day everything that I have whispered to you in the dark. Whatever whispers you hear—shout them from the rooftops of houses." Matthew 10:26-27
I believe it is a great and marvelous thing that we were able to expose those things in life which taunt and persecute us. Even if they believe with a rock solid assurance that as long as they remain locked behind closed doors, even if they believe that they can evade detection by the very best radar or sonar system or Law Enforcement Agency, the fact remains that there is no such thing as the perfect lock, perfect door that will prevent them from making their own mistakes, becoming themselves, the source of their own downfall. So, today, I want to expose to you; “The Con Artist Named Pride.” Yes, this is a truly clever fellow. Yes, extraordinarily cunning and remarkably devious. You say "So What" "Big Deal".
What is a con artist anyway? A con artist is someone who is skilled and experienced at devising and executing scams and other fraudulent schemes. In worldly terms, the purpose is normally to get as much money from a victim as possible, but to do so in a way the victim actually believes they are getting a benefit. This is exactly how Pride works in our lives. And I believe that the Con Artist Named Pride is even craftier than any other professional Con Artists. He ever so slowly creeps into our lives, makes us feel comfortable, befriends us, and all the while his mind is focused only on taking as much of us to the spiritual cleaners as he possibly can. There's no remorse or regret. It feeds and it consumes.
9 Ominously, like a crouching lion in its lair, he lurks in secret to waylay those who are downtrodden. When he catches them, he draws them in and drags them off with his net. 10 Quietly crouching, lying low, ready to overwhelm the next by his strength, 11 The wicked thinks in his heart, “God has forgotten us! He has covered His face and will never notice!” Yes, our pride, like that crouching, hungry lion is quietly lurking in his secret places, our hearts, our minds, our spirits just waiting to pounce and eat us alive. It waits and lurks for all races, gender, and economic classes. Pride is waiting to bring down those hearts pitched against God. It has no remorse. It has no regret. It strike without announcing.
Some of you may be sitting out there thinking to yourself about how this message will not apply to you because you tell yourself that you are too good to allow pride to affect you and that you never have had any problems with Pride because you are so different, so very much better than everyone else. "Nope, not me, not today Mr. Lion." What is pride? This Lion 'Pride' means to act arrogantly; possess a very high opinion of ones worth, self-conceit. We admit, we all know people that by their actions we would nominate them as prideful people. But let us be careful because pride pounces upon the lives of every person sometimes without being recognized until it's too late. Recognize then the Lion Of Judah.
Let Us Pray: Lord God, You instruct Your people to listen carefully and ever heed Your instruction because pride can cause the Lord's flock to be taken captive, to being so easily deceived. Father, help me to understand that the pride in my heart is deceiving me. Those who walk in pride and arrogance, those who step into the Lion's Den, You are able to humble. (Daniel 6:16 -25) Pour out Your mercy and grace upon me O Lord that I can be this kind of person. Change my heart to be like Yours Father! My Savior and Redeemer, help me to take Your yoke upon me and learn from You, for You are gentle and humble in heart, and I will find rest for my soul. In Jesus' name - Amen.
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