Steven A. Bush - January 17, 2021
Pride Goeth Before...
Romans 12:3 says: "For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you." (NIV) Proverbs 16:18 astutely warns: "Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall." (AMP) The Scriptures, not to mention all of history, are replete with stories of the unconquerable being conquered, the invincible being taken down, the haughty being humbled, and the boastful made to eat their words. The Babylonian King Nebuchadnezzar was one of those. He reigned over his dynasty at its zenith but then God struck him with an insanity that caused him to eat grass, grow claws, and live like a wild beast. But what's most astounding is not God's severity; it's His mercy. Because Nebuchadnezzar was eventually enabled to look to the One True God in Heaven with humility and a repentant heart, The LORD actually restored him. Among our sins that put Jesus on the cross was arrogance and pride. In this extraordinary exchange, God's revulsion to our sin was unleashed upon Christ while His righteousness has been imputed to us. God's holy wrath is fierce. But His love and mercy are fiercer still. The Cross reminds us...