Ignorant, Self Confidence

This is from Grace Gems, a website that sends daily devotionals to your e-mail box.  I thought I would share this one.

 

The seeds of every wickedness

(J. C. Ryle, “The Gospel of Mark” 1857)

“But Peter insisted emphatically, ‘Even if I
have to die with You, I will never disown You!’
And all the others vowed the same.” Mark 14:31

See how much ignorant self confidence may
sometimes be found in the hearts of Christians.
The apostle Peter could not think it possible that
he could ever deny his Lord. And he did not stand
alone in his confidence. The other disciples were
of the same opinion. “And all the others vowed
the same.”

Yet what did all this confident boasting come to?

Twelve hours did not pass away before all the
disciples forsook our Lord and fled. Their loud
professions were all forgotten. The present
danger swept all their promises of fidelity clean
away. So little do we know how we shall act in
any particular position—until we are placed in it!

Let us learn to pray for humility. “Pride goes before
destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.”

There is far more wickedness in all our hearts,
than we know. We never can tell how far we might
fall—if once placed in temptation. There is no degree
of sin into which the greatest saint may not run—if he
is not held up by the grace of God, and if he does not
watch and pray.

The seeds of every wickedness lie hidden in
our hearts! They only need the convenient season
to spring forth into a mischievous vitality. “Let him
that thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.” “He
who trusts his own heart is a fool.” Let our daily
prayer be, “Hold me up—and I shall be safe!”

 

Hypocrites

Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites!  You give a tenth of your spices–mint, dill and cummin.  But you have neglected the more important matters of the law–justice, mercy and faithfulness.  You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former.  You blind guides!  You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel.       Mat. 23:23-24

These guys are very legalistic.  They always make sure they give their tenth of spices, and in full view of everyone.  They want to make sure everyone sees them doing it, and probably how much they are giving for that matter.  But yet, they ignore the matters that are of great importance to God, justice, mercy and faithfulness.  They have no problem doing the little stuff and what is easy for them, but when it comes to the harder stuff, they ignore it.  They have a huge arrogant pride about themselves.  What is most important to them is getting praised by men, not praising God.  They will quickly condemn anyone who does not tithe, for example, but when it comes to a matter of justice or mercy, which is the office that they are holding, they pick and chose when and what they do.  They don’t take the scriptures and make decision based on what God would want done, but what benefits them the most. 

 

Pride

The greatest among you will be your servant.  For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.                    Mat. 22:11-12

Pride is such a huge obstacle for all people.  I know in my own life it is one of the most difficult challenges that I face on a daily basis.  I never realized how selfish I was until I got married.  I always thought of myself as a pretty good guy who likes to help when I can.  But after I got married, my wife and I had soe difficult times, and the reason for that was my pride always kept getting in the way.  My Pastor refers to wives as the second holy spirit.  We should be open to the conviction of the Holy Spirit in our lives when we sin.  However, sometimes, including myself, I be come selfish and am blinded to the sin I am doing because of my pride.  That is where my wife comes in, because she will at times notice my sin and is more than willing to point it out.  In a good way though!  I am grateful for that too.  Because through that, will my personal relationship with Jesus Christ continue to grow deeper.