The Deception of Pride

DAY 251
6-11-10
OBADIAH


Good Morning!

One of the saddest things I encounter is Christians who have no confidence in their salvation. Even though we humbly place our salvation in the grace of God, we still can have confidence and assurance of where we will spend eternity. The opposite is just as sad. Some are so full of pride that they can’t conceive that they could ever be lost. Their lives are full of pride and sin; and yet they arrogantly believe God will over look it.

The short prophetic writing of Obadiah is not just a judgment against prideful Edom; it was a wake up call for Israel; and for us today as well. Solomon’s words “Pride goes before destruction” are so true. Sometimes we think we are safe when we are not.

(Obadiah 3-5) 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.

The people of Edom were full of pride and thought they were safe in fortresses that they cut into caves in the sides of cliffs. They thought no one could touch them. They thought they were completely safe. God, however, is not foiled by such human fortresses. God will take them down for their sinful lives.

The only confidence we can have with God is trusting in his grace and humbly living before him. God will take down the proud from where ever they are. Have confidence in God and not in your self. Our safety and assurance is found in God’s grace and in our humble faith.

Barry