The Most Subtle Temptation
by Dr. Paul Chappell
“And Satan stood up against Israel, and provoked David to number Israel. And David said to Joab and to the rulers of the people, Go, number Israel from Beersheba even to Dan; and bring the number of them to me, that I may know it. And Joab answered, The LORD make his people an hundred times so many more as they be: but, my lord the king, are they not all my lord’s servants? why then doth my lord require this thing? why will he be a cause of trespass to Israel?”
1 Chronicles 21:1–3
David was greatly blessed by God during his reign over Israel. The small Jewish state grew into a great power as victory followed victory. Yet later in his life, rather than being grateful for what God had done, David was filled with pride and conducted a census, apparently with the desire to bring honor to himself. In spite of the wise counsel of Joab, David insisted on numbering the people. This counting of the people brought the serious judgment of God, because at heart it was based on the sin of pride.
The temptation of pride has been with us since sin entered the world: “And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat” (Genesis 3:6).
The thing that makes pride so subtle and so destructive is that it is so easy for us to rationalize pride as something else entirely. David could excuse his sin of wanting to rejoice in how big his army was by pointing out the need of a commander to know the number of his troops. But God sees the heart. When we are tempted to excuse our pride, we should instead humble ourselves before God.
1 Chronicles 21:1–3
David was greatly blessed by God during his reign over Israel. The small Jewish state grew into a great power as victory followed victory. Yet later in his life, rather than being grateful for what God had done, David was filled with pride and conducted a census, apparently with the desire to bring honor to himself. In spite of the wise counsel of Joab, David insisted on numbering the people. This counting of the people brought the serious judgment of God, because at heart it was based on the sin of pride.
The temptation of pride has been with us since sin entered the world: “And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat” (Genesis 3:6).
The thing that makes pride so subtle and so destructive is that it is so easy for us to rationalize pride as something else entirely. David could excuse his sin of wanting to rejoice in how big his army was by pointing out the need of a commander to know the number of his troops. But God sees the heart. When we are tempted to excuse our pride, we should instead humble ourselves before God.
Today’s Growth Principle:
Overcoming pride requires constant vigilance and ongoing surrender to God.
Let God Interrupt You
by Joyce Meyer - posted February 20, 2017…And who knows but that you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this and for this very occasion?
—Esther 4:14
Have you ever noticed that the men and women we read about in the Bible and consider “great” were all people who allowed God to interrupt their lives and were willing to make tremendous sacrifices for Him?
Joseph saved a nation from starvation, but not before God dramatically removed him from his comfortable home where he was his father's favorite and allowed him to be imprisoned for many years. Joseph probably wasn't planning a life of hardship and rejection, but God took him through those things in order to position him to be in the right place at the right time. But Joseph could only know that after the fact.
Esther was a young maiden who undoubtedly had plans for her future when suddenly, without warning, she was asked to enter the king's harem and gain favor with him so she could reveal the plan of wicked Haman, who intended to slaughter the Jews. She was asked to do things that left her frightened for her life, but her wise uncle knew that God had brought her to this point in her life and allowed everything she had endured in the past to prepare her for a moment of greatness.
These people had plans, but they let God interrupt them and they followed Him instead. If you will decide that you don't mind having God interrupt your life, He can prepare you too, for moments of greatness and use you in awesome ways.
Love God Today:“Lord, interrupt my life for Your purposes at any time and in any way You see fit.”
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