It was exactly one week ago today, as I write, I arrived at a get-together where I was expected to "say a few words" (being the spiritual giant I am)! Nothing new for me, I've done it many, many times over. Being this was a very special, specific occasion, I had a specific message planned. Two nights before as I was formulating what I wanted to say, I received a message from a pastor friend of mine who's name, many of you would recognize. This Pastor had no knowledge of my planned activity and doesn't contact me all that often. He told me about a song he thought I might want to know about and contained words directly related to the event I was to attend! God's timing is perfect! When I speak, unless I need to quote someone or read from the Bible, I don't use any script, but maybe a few short notes of "don't forget to say..." things. As I prepared my message in my mind, I started out thinking I should talk about God's timing by mentioning how this famous pastor left me the ideas. At the event, the "agenda" changed and I never did get the opportunity to give my message and neither did anyone else! That night, as I thought about this turn of events I was hit with a ton of bricks when I realized my inclusion of the idea given to me by the famous pastor was nothing more than PRIDE! As I reviewed my thought process before the message, it was obvious I was more concerned with sticking in the "famous pastor" line than the message itself before a predominately secular group!
DISCUSSION: Pride can sneak in anywhere no matter what your job is, who you are or how many years you've been a believer. Who puts it there? Satan! He wants to destroy your witness. He wants you to think you are more important than the message. He knows your weaknesses and he will use them. Pride is written about extensively in Proverbs. Why not read one chapter of Proverbs daily on the date of the calendar such as on the first day of the month, read Proverbs 1. You and do that with Psalms too but it will take many more months to get thru them. Come on people...neither me, you or anyone else is "better" than anyone else! Why does God allow bad things to happen to good people? Because none of us are good hence, there are no good people. The question should be: "Why does God allow good things to happen to bad people!". Pride will sneak up on you. It is up to you and me to ALWAYS be on the alert!
DISCUSSION: Pride can sneak in anywhere no matter what your job is, who you are or how many years you've been a believer. Who puts it there? Satan! He wants to destroy your witness. He wants you to think you are more important than the message. He knows your weaknesses and he will use them. Pride is written about extensively in Proverbs. Why not read one chapter of Proverbs daily on the date of the calendar such as on the first day of the month, read Proverbs 1. You and do that with Psalms too but it will take many more months to get thru them. Come on people...neither me, you or anyone else is "better" than anyone else! Why does God allow bad things to happen to good people? Because none of us are good hence, there are no good people. The question should be: "Why does God allow good things to happen to bad people!". Pride will sneak up on you. It is up to you and me to ALWAYS be on the alert!
