Give It Up

Mockers are proud and haughty; they act with boundless arrogance.

Proverbs 21:24 NLT

Throw out the mocker, and fighting goes, too. Quarrels and insults will disappear.

Proverbs 22:10 NLT

There are those who just like to fight and argue over anything... or nothing. They have an opinion about everything and think they are always right. It seems they thrive on contention. I grew up in a house like that and I could argue with the "best" of them... until I met Jesus.

Now I don't want to. I gave up that fight long ago. Life is an illustrated sermon of Throw out the mocker, and fighting goes, too. The quarrels and insults really DO disappear. It's like the slogan from an old TV commercial - "Try it - you'll like it!"

Prayer:

Father,

          Deliver us from the mouth of the mocker - pride and arrogance, quarrels and insults. Start and finish with us, Father. Cause us to be ever mindful to humble ourselves before You and before others. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Lesson Learned?

And you have praised the gods of silver and gold, bronze and iron, wood and stone, which do not see or hear or know; and the God who holds your breath in His hand and owns all your ways, you have not glorified.
Daniel 5:23 NKJV

Nebuchadnezzar was the king who God caused to lose his mind because of his pride and arrogance. He lost his kingship and lived like a wild beast in the field after declaring the mighty works of his kingdom were his - done by his own hands - and did not glorify God. He was also Belshazzar's ancestor. Belshazzar knew all this and still didn't humble his heart. The breath God gave them, they used to deny God and renounce Him. So he lost everything, too.

You'd think they would learn, wouldn't you? The question is, Have we?

Do we acknowledge and glorify God for the strength and the wisdom and the abilities He alone has given us or do we take the credit? Do we still insist that we don't want to do or go or be what the Holy Spirit is leading us to?

...and the God who holds your breath in His hand and owns all your ways, you have not glorified. Let's learn the lesson before it's too late.

Prayer:

Father,
           Forgive our foolish pride and pathetic attempts at greatness. Teach us how to humble ourselves - to throw ourselves on the rock before we are crushed by it! It is only through You that we have life at all. Any and all talents and gifts were given to us in our mother's womb when You created us and numbered our days. All glory and honor and praise to You, O God! In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen