Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject unto one another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, but he giveth grace to the humble (1Peter 5:5).
Chris & Anita Oyakhilome
Pride is deceptive, and many walk in it unknowingly because they can’t readily identify it. Only the Word of God can show you what pride really is. For instance, the bible tells us how some of Jesus’ disciples took offence at his teaching and stopped following Him. This happened in the synagogue where he taught at Capernaum (John 6:59). He had said some things they weren’t comfortable with, and they reacted saying, “…This is hard saying; who can hear it?” (John 6:60). They got angry at His doctrine because they thought they knew better than He did; they were inflated with pride.
Now, Jesus didn’t stop them from going away. He let them go. Then he turned to the others who remained and asked if they would also go away. Peter responded on their behalf, “…Lord, to whom shall we go? Thou hast the words of eternal life. And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God.” (John 6:68-69).
These ones stayed only because of what they got from the Lord, Jesus. They were sure He was the Christ, and esteemed the message He brought to them. The others weren’t sure, for had they been sure, they would have known He knew better than they.
Pride is what makes people take offence and walk out on others. When something unfavourable is said to you, don’t become offended and walk away. Some would say, “How dare you say such a thing to me?” If the same thing was said to a humble person, he wouldn’t care because he no longer lives for himself.
1Peter 5:6 says, “Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time.” Humility pays; therefore, choose to be humble at all times. God will keep granting you increased grace for promotions, victories and excellence as long as you remain humble.
Prayer
Dear Father, I thank you for helping me develop the right attitude to every word and instruction that comes to me by the anointing of the Holy Spirit as I respond in humility to your Word and its purpose in my life, in the Name of the Lord Jesus. Amen!
