The Bible says in Proverbs chapter 3 verses 5 and 6 that “Trust in The LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge HIM, and HE will make straight your paths.” It also says in Psalm 37 verses 23 and 24 that “The LORD directs the steps of the godly. HE delights in every detail of their lives. Though they stumble, they will never fall, for The LORD holds them by the hand.”
I’m also reminded of two stories in the Bible that the LORD JESUS CHRIST shared, one in Luke chapter 18 verses 9 and 14, and it says “Then He told this story to some who boasted of their virtue and scorned everyone else: “Two men went to the Temple to pray. One was a proud, self-righteous Pharisee, and the other a cheating tax collector. The proud Pharisee ‘prayed’ this prayer: ‘Thank GOD, I am not a sinner like everyone else, especially like that tax collector over there. For I never cheat, I don’t commit adultery, I go without food twice a week, and I give to GOD a tenth of everything I earn.’ “But the corrupt tax collector stood at a distance and dared not even lift his eyes to heaven as he prayed, but beat upon his chest in sorrow, exclaiming, ‘GOD, be merciful to me, a sinner.’ I tell you, this sinner, not the Pharisee, returned home forgiven. For the proud shall be humbled, but the humble shall be honored.”
Another one in the book of Matthew 21 verses 28 and 32, and the LORD JESUS said that “But what do you think about this? A man with two sons told the older boy, ‘Son, go out and work in the vineyard today.’ The son answered, ‘No, I won’t go,’ but later he changed his mind and went anyway. Then the father told the other son, ‘You go,’ and he said, ‘Yes, sir, I will.’ But he didn’t go. “Which of the two obeyed his father?” They replied, “The first.” Then JESUS explained HIS meaning: “I tell you the truth, corrupt tax collectors and prostitutes will get into the Kingdom of GOD before you do. For John the Baptist came and showed you the right way to live, but you didn’t believe him, while tax collectors and prostitutes did. And even when you saw this happening, you refused to believe him and repent of your sins.”
We have discussed that we have our part to play which is called obedience. I have shared that the sin of pride is not only being arrogant and self-righteous, it is also about preferring self-will over GOD Will for our lives. And we overcome this pride in Biblical way, when we yield to GOD Will and instructions and simply obeying them. It’s not enough to hear the Word Of GOD, we have to do it and practice it, be practical and implementing what we know in our lives.
We also learned that obedience brings great rewards, some of them we call the benefits and the blessings. If we humble ourselves before GOD, HE will exalt you and me in due time. In James 4 verse 10, it says “Humble yourselves before The LORD, and HE will lift you up in honor.”
The LORD JESUS said in Matthew chapter 7 verse 21, “Not everyone who says to ME, ‘LORD, LORD,’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven, but only he who does the Will of MY FATHER WHO is in Heaven.” Another Bible translation says “Knowing the correct password saying ‘Master, Master,’ for instance, isn’t going to get you anywhere with Me. What is required is serious obedience, doing what MY FATHER Wills.”
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