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Pride and Humility

by Dr. Paul Chappell

“And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted to heaven, shalt be thrust down to hell. He that heareth you heareth me; and he that despiseth you despiseth me; and he that despiseth me despiseth him that sent me.”
Luke 10:15–16
Though both George Whitefield and John Wesley were greatly used in the revival known as the Great Awakening, they had significant theological differences on many points. As the story goes, when Wesley went to the memorial service for George Whitefield after the evangelist’s death, he was confronted by a lady who agreed with Whitefield and asked, “Mr. Wesley, do you think you shall see Mr. Whitefield in Heaven?” Wesley replied, “No.” Thinking that he was referring to their disagreements, the lady said, “I was afraid you would say that.” Then Wesley explained, “George Whitefield will be so near the throne of God, that men like me will never catch a glimpse of him.”
How easily we yield to the temptation of pride. How quickly we forget that God hates pride with a holy fury. It is not by accident that on the list of sins that God hates, pride takes first place. “These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: A proud look...” (Proverbs 6:16–17). It is part of our sinful nature to want to be exalted, but God will not tolerate pride in our hearts.
If you travel to Israel today, you can visit the ruins of the once thriving and prosperous city of Capernaum. Just as Jesus prophesied, the city that exalted itself and refused to listen to Him was brought low. The same holds true for every individual who chooses the path of pride over the way of humility—destruction always follows. The judgment of God is nothing to be trifled with. Instead we should view pride as God does and stamp out every appearance that it makes in our lives.

Today’s Growth Principle: 

Only as we humble ourselves do we receive the grace of God for victory in our daily lives.

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Blessed be the God and  Father of our Lord Jesus Christ!  According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you.   --1 Peter 1:3-4 In these troubling times, have you ever wondered if we can really be hopeful about the future?  I want to assure you that it is possible to live with hope, despite what may be going on around us. Because while hope is ultimately about the future, it’s also about the present.  And that’s because we have a living hope. Through the resurrection of Jesus Christ we have hope.  It’s because He lives that hope can reside in your heart if you’re a Christian. And because of that, there is no need to fear the future!  If you are a child of God, you are chosen and called by Him.  You’re not an accident, an afterthought, or a mistake.  You have been in the heart and mind of God forever, and He has already been planning and preparing your future. In fact, God knows the end from the beginning… and everything else in your life.  That’s comforting when we face tough times and when we’re tempted to give up.  It’s encouraging to know that we are never, ever without hope! So today, if you’re tempted to give up on your marriage, don’t!  If you’re thinking about giving up on your kids, don’t!  If you want to give up on your dreams… or even life itself… don’t! Remember that you have a living hope that is working in your past, your present, and your future.  And as the Scripture teaches us in Romans chapter 5, that hope does not disappoint! Today, give G​ od thanks for keeping your future in his hands!