DCLM Daily Manna 14 September 2022 Devotional By Pastor W. F. Kumuyi — Damned Through Pride
TOPIC: Damned Through Pride (DCLM Daily Manna 14 September 2022)
TEXT: 2 Kings 14:8-16 (KJV)
8 Then Amaziah sent messengers to Jehoash, the son of Jehoahaz son of Jehu, king of Israel, saying, Come, let us look one another in the face.
9 And Jehoash the king of Israel sent to Amaziah king of Judah, saying, The thistle that was in Lebanon sent to the cedar that was in Lebanon, saying, Give thy daughter to my son to wife: and there passed by a wild beast that was in Lebanon, and trode down the thistle.
10 Thou hast indeed smitten Edom, and thine heart hath lifted thee up: glory of this, and tarry at home: for why shouldest thou meddle to thy hurt, that thou shouldest fall, even thou, and Judah with thee?
11 But Amaziah would not hear. Therefore Jehoash king of Israel went up; and he and Amaziah king of Judah looked one another in the face at Bethshemesh, which belongeth to Judah.
12 And Judah was put to the worse before Israel; and they fled every man to their tents.
13 And Jehoash king of Israel took Amaziah king of Judah, the son of Jehoash the son of Ahaziah, at Bethshemesh, and came to Jerusalem, and brake down the wall of Jerusalem from the gate of Ephraim unto the corner gate, four hundred cubits.
14 And he took all the gold and silver, and all the vessels that were found in the house of the Lord, and in the treasures of the king’s house, and hostages, and returned to Samaria.
15 Now the rest of the acts of Jehoash which he did, and his might, and how he fought with Amaziah king of Judah, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?
16 And Jehoash slept with his fathers, and was buried in Samaria with the kings of Israel; and Jeroboam his son reigned in his stead.
KEY VERSE: “Thou hast indeed smitten Edom, and thine heart hath lifted thee up: glory of this, and tarry at home: for why shouldest thou meddle to thy hurt, that thou shouldest fall, even thou, and Judah with thee?” (2 KINGS 14:10).
MESSAGE:
Pride is often defined as an exaggerated sense of self-worth; a supremacist and negative viewpoint that deceives a person into believing that he is superior to others. The proud is always a victim of a perverted mindset, which fails to accept the fact that one’s life is not determined by self-worth.
From the text, Amaziah sent messengers to Jehoash, king of Israel, for them to look one another in the face; not for play or pleasure but for war. The wise Jehoash replied Amaziah with a riddle of the thistle and the cedar. He warned Amaziah to avoid pride because of the victory over Edom. He advised him to “glory of this and tarry at home” and not cause destruction to himself and his nation. Amaziah refused this warning. He was woefully defeated by Jehoash in the battle and he lost all the gold and silver vessels that were in the house of the Lord and in the king’s treasures. His people were also taken captives.
The Scriptures warn that pride is a sure route to destruction (Proverbs 16:18). Just as Amaziah and Judah fell, so will proud people fall. A humble person is more secure than the proud. A proud person portends a bloated view of himself and exposes himself to unnecessary attack and confrontation. The humble believer however, remains lowly no matter his status. In this state of lowliness, he receives grace to make more progress in life because he depends on God daily.
A true believer who is a product of grace should never permit a strand of pride in his life. Or else, he will lose his peace and attachment to God. Pride is self worship. The moment pride begins to crop up, spare no effort in getting rid of it. Remember, God resists the proud. Let us remain in His grace and keep humble.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
The proud worship self, not God.
THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
Numbers 14-15
DCLM Daily Manna was written by Pastor W. F. Kumuyi; is the founder and General Superintendent of the Deeper Life Bible Church situated at KM 42 on the busy Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Nigeria.
