04- 30- 11 MI DAILY DEVOTION (I Peter 5:5- 6)
PRIDE AND ARROGANCE
5- “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. 6- Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:”
Lee Iacocca in his Book, “Where Have All The Leaders Gone?” TRY A LITTLE VIRTUE wrote “… Instead of living by the deadly sins, corporate America should try living by some of the virtues. Instead of greed, how about generosity, instead of envy, try a little charity. Instead of pride, show some humility, Instead of wrath, let’s see composure.” (Page 145)
The November 14, 2001 issue of Our Daily Bread; “Known for Humility”- “…I can’t be too critical, though. I’ve seen pride in my own life. I was standing by the literature table of a church when someone picked up a copy of Our Daily Bread. “Do you read that?” I asked. “I start every day with it,” came the reply. “Well, I write for it,” I heard myself say. Pride-ugh! As servants of Christ, we should be known for humility. In (I Peter 5: 5) tells us to “be clothed with humility, for God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” We should be unpretentious, talk about other people’s accomplishments, and focus on serving others.
‘There’s a TV ad for a first-aid ointment that says, “Stop hurting… start healing.” Another offers a bandage that takes the “ouch” away. That’s good counsel. Let’s be gentle and sensitive when we are touching the tender feelings of others.’ (Dr. Chuck R. Swindoll, “Come before Winter…” pages 459- 460). And notice what it says in (Philippians 2:3- 5) 3- “Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. 4- Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. 5- Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: 6- Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7- But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 8- And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.”
A good friend of mine one day reminded me of this, he said, “Ely, be careful with what you say or do… because your words and deeds can be used against you someday…” May this be our prayer- “Lord help me to stay focus on You and not in myself, help me be a Bible centered and not self centered, I will let You guide my heart and not letting me, myself, and my BIG ‘I’ guide my own heart. And please teach me to be humble for YOU and YOU alone.” (Proverbs 11:2; 8:13) 2- “When pride cometh, then cometh shame: but with the lowly is wisdom. 13- The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.”
