The Destruction Of Pride – I'm Following Jesus

KJB Daily Devotion – Following Jesus Through Every Chapter
Date: Wed, August 23, 2017
Chapters: Jeremiah 49-50
Message: The Destruction Of Pride

Hello My Friend,

Pride; An unreasonable conceit of one’s own superiority in talents, beauty, wealth, accomplishments, rank or elevation in office, which manifests itself in lofty airs, distance, reserve, and often in contempt of others. We all have a little bit of pride in us, it is natural to feel good about who we are as a person, and to defend our honor when we are being attacked, what differs is the offense. Think about it, how many people refuse to accept Christ because they do not believe they are sinners? Quite a few. It is pride that says, I am a good person, I am not a sinner, I cannot go to hell because I do this and this and never do that and that. Pride never satisfies and always leads to our destruction, but if we are humble, now, that gets God’s attention. “A man’s pride shall bring him low: but honour shall uphold the humble in spirit.” – Proverbs 29:23.

God’s judgment upon Israel came to pass, but He was not done with them just yet, they were scattered around in other nations in an attempt to escape God, unfortunately there was no escape, wherever they went to flee, God placed judgment upon those nations as well. Ammon, half-brother of Moab, were people who knew God, but chose to worship false gods. God had given the country of Gilead to the tribes of Manasseh, Reuben, and Gad, but after the Northern Kingdom of Israel was invaded by the Assyrians, the Ammonites had taken it. Now, we come to the judgment placed upon Edom, Israel’s brother.

“Leave thy fatherless children, I will preserve them alive; and let thy widows trust in me. For thus saith the LORD; Behold, they whose judgment was not to drink of the cup have assuredly drunken; and art thou he that shall altogether go unpunished? thou shalt not go unpunished, but thou shalt surely drink of it. For I have sworn by myself, saith the LORD, that Bozrah shall become a desolation, a reproach, a waste, and a curse; and all the cities thereof shall be perpetual wastes. I have heard a rumour from the LORD, and an ambassador is sent unto the heathen, saying, Gather ye together, and come against her, and rise up to the battle. For, lo, I will make thee small among the heathen, and despised among men. Thy terribleness hath deceived thee, and the pride of thine heart, O thou that dwellest in the clefts of the rock, that holdest the height of the hill: though thou shouldest make thy nest as high as the eagle, I will bring thee down from thence, saith the LORD.” – Jeremiah 49:11-16.

“and the pride of thine heart,” Edom could have had all the blessings that Israel had, but their pride got in the way, their pride kept them from obeying God, from admitting they need God. Pride is the only thing that stops us from seeing God do some amazing things in our lives. Think about it, how often when we are in need help with something do we ask for help? More that we care to admit. Instead of asking, we struggle because of pride. “He that is of a proud heart stirreth up strife: but he that putteth his trust in the LORD shall be made fat. He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool: but whoso walketh wisely, he shall be delivered.” – Proverbs 28:25-26.

As God continues to send Jeremiah to all the nations facing judgment, He ends with Babylon. Now, Babylon has been glorying in the fact that God used them to fulfill the judgment upon Israel, especially since they could care less about God. God may use heathens to get His people to repent, including them, but when He has fulfilled His purpose for them, they too will be judged. God does have a message for His sheep.

“For out of the north there cometh up a nation against her, which shall make her land desolate, and none shall dwell therein: they shall remove, they shall depart, both man and beast. In those days, and in that time, saith the LORD, the children of Israel shall come, they and the children of Judah together, going and weeping: they shall go, and seek the LORD their God. They shall ask the way to Zion with their faces thitherward, saying, Come, and let us join ourselves to the LORD in a perpetual covenant that shall not be forgotten. My people hath been lost sheep: their shepherds have caused them to go astray, they have turned them away on the mountains: they have gone from mountain to hill, they have forgotten their restingplace. All that found them have devoured them: and their adversaries said, We offend not, because they have sinned against the LORD, the habitation of justice, even the LORD, the hope of their fathers.” – Jeremiah 50:3-7.

“They shall ask the way to Zion with their faces thitherward,” The lost sheep of Israel will willingly seek God and return to Him, and not by Jewish tradition, but by the Gospel. They will willingly confess that the Messiah they heard so much about truly is Jesus, and join in with the rest of His sheep. God is angry at all the shepherds whom caused His sheep to flee, many are lost, some have even fell prey to predators, but Jesus knows where His sheep are and once He returns they will all regroup and find Him. “I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep. And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.” – John 10:14-16.

In spite of its magnificent splendor Jeremiah reminded them that that God is more powerful and they too will be destroyed. Along with the warning to Babylon comes a promise to the Jews.

“Call together the archers against Babylon: all ye that bend the bow, camp against it round about; let none thereof escape: recompense her according to her work; according to all that she hath done, do unto her: for she hath been proud against the LORD, against the Holy One of Israel. Therefore shall her young men fall in the streets, and all her men of war shall be cut off in that day, saith the LORD. Behold, I am against thee, O thou most proud, saith the Lord GOD of hosts: for thy day is come, the time that I will visit thee. And the most proud shall stumble and fall, and none shall raise him up: and I will kindle a fire in his cities, and it shall devour all round about him. Thus saith the LORD of hosts; The children of Israel and the children of Judah were oppressed together: and all that took them captives held them fast; they refused to let them go.” – Jeremiah 50:29-33.

“for she hath been proud against the LORD,” There it is again, pride. Babylon was well aware that God exists and was used by Him to judge Israel, and yet they refused to come to God themselves, and this would be the fall of a great and powerful nation. Pride is always what causes a nation to fall, look at the world today, the evil, the wickedness, the immorality, no fear of God, no shame in the way they are living, and it will only get worse because their pride will never accept nor obey the voice of God. “Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.” – Proverbs 16:18.

Jesus Christ Magnified: “Their Redeemer is strong; the LORD of hosts is his name: he shall throughly plead their cause, that he may give rest to the land, and disquiet the inhabitants of Babylon.” – Jeremiah 50:34.

Today’s Prayer: God, I know that if I ask You anything believing that I will receive it. I also know that I am custom to want it right now. You bless me every day, but sometimes I cannot see it past my pride. Lord, Help me to stay humble and wait patiently for everything that I am asking for. Give me Your power to overcome all the temptations and tricks from the devil trying to hinder me from trusting in You. Open my heart, show me any hindrances that I may have that are stopping me from seeing the blessings in the first place. I love You, Lord and ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen.

God Bless You, I am praying for you,

Christina

Are You 100% Sure You Are Going To Heaven?: http://readytofollow.com/
Receive The KJB Daily Devotions In Your Email: http://eepurl.com/2WMzT
Missed A Message: http://imfollowingjesus.com/Biblestudy/
Visit I’m Following Jesus: http://imfollowingjesus.com/index.html
Like I’m Following Jesus On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/byhisstrength