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daily, Bible-based perspective of hope, encouragement and
exhortation.
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Friday,
May
15,
2020
The
Fisher's Greenhouse in Strasburg, PA is one of the most
tidy in the whole county. Amish Greenhouses don't hire
robots, otherwise I'd consider that, after hours, robots
are scooting along the cement aisles suctioning any
blossom, leaf or soil that has fallen from the thousands
of plants. But, what we do see are workers busy
watering, planting, cleaning and often joyfully singing hymns as they
do their work diligently.
"The
Deception Of Pride"
Message summary: As God’s redeemed people let us humble ourselves before the Lord today. Let us remember His warning, “Pride goes before destruction” and hear His Word that directs His people to, “Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will lift you up".
Listen
to this
message on your audio player.“The pride of your heart has deceived you, you who live in the clefts of the rocks and make your home on the heights, you who say to yourself, ‘Who can bring me down to the ground?’ ‘Though you soar like the eagle and make your nest among the stars, from there I will bring you down,’ declares the LORD” (Obadiah 1:3,4). “Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before stumbling” (Proverbs 16:18). “Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will lift you up” (James 4:10).
During this coronavirus pandemic period we've seen the good and the bad of the visible church and those in ministry. Many are seeking creative ways to minister. Marlin is a friend whose son is a pastor with a church of 400 in Columbus, Ohio. He told me his son has made the effort to call each family in the church to encourage them and express his care. That would be a lot of phone calls! John Keefer, a local pastor friend, has a weekly Zoom meeting so the dispersed church can feel somewhat connected during this time of isolation. We know there are many, many other commendable ways people are seeking to keep the light shining.
But there are those who are an embarrassment to be associated with the Christian faith and it's so confusing to the watching world. A long-time "famous" televangelist has been seeking to profit from the fears by essentially selling snake oil with a claim it heals Covid 19. Several in the name it/claim it crowd have haughtily pronounced the end of the coronavirus. Some of these big time preachers have done very well profiting from religion and have their fancy cars, mansions and airplanes. They often convey such a smug pride and frankly I marvel at how many gullible people there are that help them stay in "business". A verse from Jesus comes to mind, "they have received their reward" (Matthew 6:1-4).
But we are all subject to pride, especially leaders. John Stott stated, “The chief occupational hazard of leadership is pride.”
Benjamin Franklin wrote, "There is perhaps no one of our natural passions so hard to subdue as pride. Beat it down, stifle it, mortify it as much as one pleases, it is still alive. Even if I could conceive that I had completely overcome it, I should probably be proud of my humility." While pride is a sin, humility is a virtue, that once you think you have it, you've lost it. (Think on that one for a minute.)
Obadiah is the smallest book in the Old Testament having only one chapter with 21 verses. This is a prophecy against the Edomites, an ancient people who had descended from Esau, Jacob’s brother, and long-time enemies of God’s chosen people.
At the time of the Babylonian conquest the Edomites had rejoiced in the destruction of Jerusalem by her conquerors. (The hatred of Israel by her neighbors is ancient.) Psalm 137 was written during this time and states, “Remember O Lord what the Edomites did on the day Jerusalem fell. ‘Tear it down’ they cried, ‘tear it down to its foundations!’” (v.7) Obadiah was written to assure God’s people of His impending judgment on the Edomites.
Our daily verse indicates a timeless principle: pride deceives. This ancient people indeed had some distinct military advantages due to the seeming invincibility of their geographical position, which by all means was amazing. The cities of Edom were cut right into the face of the cliffs providing imposing natural defenses, which gave their inhabitants a sense of invulnerability.
They thought they could taunt the misfortunes of their neighbor Israel and remain untouched. They had declared, “Who can bring me down to the ground?” However the Lord declared, “I will bring you down” (v. 4) and the historical record indicates that He did just that.
Pride continues to deceive. The hard but valuable lessons from history are often ignored by the heart of a nation and the heart of an individual. Pride is a great deceiver.
Where is your source of hope and assurance today? In your education? Your position? Your financial plan? National defenses? Remember, the arm of flesh (yours or anyone else’s) will surely fail you!
Our only firm foundation is Jesus Christ. He alone is the Cornerstone. Today and everyday let us ever be mindful of pride’s deceitfulness! As God’s redeemed people let us humble ourselves before the Lord today. Let us remember His warning, “Pride goes before destruction” and hear His Word that directs His people to, “Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will lift you up".
Christ
alone, Cornerstone
Weak made strong in the Savior's love
Through the storm
He is Lord, Lord of all
Weak made strong in the Savior's love
Through the storm
He is Lord, Lord of all
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily
prayer: Father,
I choose to heed
the words of Scripture that caution us not to be
a proud people or destruction will fall upon
anything that I have built in my own strength
for my self-glory. I want my heart to be filled
with godly gratitude instead of a prideful
attitude so that it deflects that which is about
me and reflects all that is about You. In the
same spirit as John I cry out, “Help me to
decrease so that You will increase in my life.”
More of Jesus, less of me, I pray. Amen.Today's
Suggested Music and Supplemental Resources
"Humble Thyself in the
Sight of the Lord" Video Maranatha Singers For years we sang this song in rounds and memorized this powerful Scripture verse.
"Humble Yourself"
Video
Maranatha! Music
"Cornerstone" Video Calvary Church Choir
and Orchestra This was recorded back in the day when
groups of people gathered in buildings to worship the
Lord! Seriously, this is the choir Brooksyne sings in
so you might just see her! (Stephen) BTW, if you keep
watching Pastor Beau has a very interesting opening
illustration.
Yesterday we were
over on Beacon Hill near Intercourse, PA and
from the top of the hill we saw this view.
Beacon Hill is named for a navigational beacon
that used to be on the hill in the early days of
aviation. But I thought of a very different Beacon Hill in Boston we
enjoy walking through.
(Click on photo
to enlarge)
I visited an
Amish hat maker and shop on Beacon Hill. A rite
of passage in Amish culture is a little boy's
first hat and in this photo the father is
fitting one on his two year old son.
This is a special
hat worn only by certain Amish men.
Can anyone tell
me what makes it different than the majority of
hats displayed here? Answer here.
Brooksyne enjoys
holding the growing goat twins on the Old
Windmill Farm after she and the other children
chase the little rascals down. These twins are
now about four weeks old.
A day-old turkey!
Send a message to
Stephen & Brooksyne
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Scripture references are from The Holy Bible: New International Version. © 1984 by International Bible Society; NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright © 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, New King James Version (NKJV) Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. and the King James Version.
Personal Mission Statement: "I am created by God to bring Him glory. Through God's Son Jesus Christ I have been redeemed and make it my life's goal to please the Lord. My mission in life is to honor God through my faith and obedience and prepare myself and all whom I may influence for eternity."
Scripture references are from The Holy Bible: New International Version. © 1984 by International Bible Society; NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright © 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, New King James Version (NKJV) Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. and the King James Version.
Personal Mission Statement: "I am created by God to bring Him glory. Through God's Son Jesus Christ I have been redeemed and make it my life's goal to please the Lord. My mission in life is to honor God through my faith and obedience and prepare myself and all whom I may influence for eternity."
© Copyright 2020 Stephen C. & Brooksyne
Weber - All Rights Reserved
Daily Encouragement Net - 495 Kraybill Church Road - Mount Joy, PA 17552 USA
Daily Encouragement Net - 495 Kraybill Church Road - Mount Joy, PA 17552 USA