Pride And Its Effect

Devotion for Friday February 23, 2018

Topic: Pride And Its Effect

Text: Isaiah 10: 5 – 19

The king of Assyria, in his pride, thought to act by his own will. Most tyrants of the world are tools of Providence. The plan of God was to correct His people for their hypocrisy, and bring them nearer to Him; but that wasn’t Sennacherib's plan. His desire was to gratify his own covetousness and ambition. He boasted of the great things he has done to other nations (Isaiah 10:8 – 11), by his own policy and power. He did not know that it was God who made him what he was, and puts the staff into his hand (Isaiah 10:5). If he had consulted Nebuchadnezzar, he wouldn’t have been so pompous. His pomposity provoked God’s anger (Isaiah 10:12 – 15). 

Matthew Henry opined that “For a tool to boast or to strive against Him that formed it, would not be more out of the way, than for Sennacherib to vaunt himself against Jehovah.” God’s verdict on King of Assyria was that He shall strip him and all his princes, of their wealth, and might, and glory; and destroy his numerous armies as fire destroys things which are thrown into it (Isaiah 10:16). That was the effect of pride on Sennacherib. 

Beloved, do you boast of the talent, wisdom, power or position God has given to you? Do you look down on others because you feel you are better than them? Think twice! God is God of justice. He exalts and brings down (Psalm 75:7; Matthew 23:12; Luke 18:14). 

Sing A&M 194; Abu 177.

Food for Thought: Proverbs 29:23                

Memory verse: Isaiah 10:12

Prayer: 1. My Father in heaven, may I not exalt myself because of where you have placed me or the talent you have given to me. 2. Grant me the spirit of humility and appreciation for what you have made me in Jesus name. Amen      

What Is Life?

Devotion for Saturday October 28, 2017

Topic: What Is Life?

Text: James 4:11 – 17

In our bible reading for the day, James put up an argument which started from James 4:13 concerning those who think that they have power over their future. He asserts that no man knows what will happen tomorrow. Unfortunately and sadly too, so many people either carelessly or due to pride assume that they can do something about the future by boasting to fulfill their pride and arrogance.

Proverbs 27:1 says, “Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth.” God has not given us the power to command the future which means that we should depend on Him for each day. No wonder Jesus taught us in the Lord’s Prayer: Give us this day, our daily bread … meaning one day at a time. We can only plead to God concerning the future and not to command the future.

Beloved, all your plans must depend of course on the continuance of your life which God alone offers because when the life is no more, all plans end. Unfortunately, what most of us don’t know or fail to remember most times is that life is transitory and evanescent as a basis on which to build any plan for the future. We can’t calculate on the permanence of a vapour neither build any solid hope on a mist. Therefore, we must know this fact that our future is in the hands of God and let this spur us to rely on Him in all we do.

Food for Thought: “Man that is born of a woman hath but a short time to live and is full of misery; he cometh up and is cut down like a flower; it flees as it were a shadow and never continues in one stay.” – Book of Common Prayer

Memory verse: James 4:14

Prayer: Help me, O Lord, to understand that life is just a mist and transitory so I can depend on you for each day of my life in Jesus name. Amen.