WHO AM I?
We’ve made some great friends among the pastors in India. They are men I admire for their courage, faithfulness and humility. Some of our long-time good friends, who we’ve seen year after year, came today. It was instant joy to be together again. They are great, humble servants. It’s easy to spot a prideful pastor here, but the humble ones stay in the background. God sees them, though. He blesses them and uses them for His kingdom. He did that with David as well.
When David was 13, he was chosen to play music for King Saul (1 Samuel 16:21-22). It was quite a privilege for a shepherd boy whose father saw him as insignificant! Being in Saul’s court could have caused great pride in David, but it didn’t. He was always amazed that God would choose and use him. “Who am I and who is my family, that you have brought me this far?” (2 Samuel 7:18). David always remembered that all he had and all he was came from God. He wrote about this often in his Psalms (Psalm 100:3, etc).
To serve God today we must be confident, but still humble. Our confidence must be in God, not in own ability. It’s a great privilege to serve Him, but never think it is because we deserve it. None of us deserve anything from God (Titus 3:5-7; Ephesians 2:8-9; Isaiah 64:4-6). If it weren’t for Him we would be failures. I’m reminded of that constantly in India. Who am I to stand and be listened to and admired by these fine men and women of God? Who am I to have this privilege? Clearly it’s all by His amazing grace!
Pride is the sin that turned Satan from God, and it is something he tries to instill in all who would serve God. He is very subtle. He puts thoughts of our own importance into our minds, and unless we are alert we will start listening to and believing them. As Proverbs says, pride always leads to a downfall (Proverbs 16:18-28).
The problem is that pride is easy to see in others, but almost impossible to see in ourselves. Ask God to convict you or any pride (Psalm 139:23-24). When you feel His Spirit nudging you, don’t make excuses or justifications. That is pride at work. To be like Jesus means we must be humble. Ask Him to humble you, whatever it takes. That’s the only way you can be like David, and like Jesus. (January 25, 2020 Vijayawada, India)
Pride goes before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall. It is better to be of a lowly spirit (humility) among the poor than to divide the spoil with the proud (Proverbs 16:18-19).
The fear of the Lord is hatred of evil. Pride and arrogance and the way of evil and perverted speech I hate (Proverbs 8:13).
When pride comes, then comes disgrace; but wisdom is with (those who have humility, Proverbs 11:2).
Would those around you say you are humble or proud? When do you have the greatest struggle with pride? What can you do to have victory over it? If God took His presence and blessing from you right now, how would you do as a leader?