Proverbs 16:5 Everyone with a proud heart is detestable to the LORD; be assured, he will not go unpunished.
You’re so vain, I bet you think this blog is about you!
Romans 12:1 Therefore, brothers and sisters, in view of the mercies of God, I urge you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God; this is your true worship. The problem with being a living sacrifice is that it is so easy to move off of God’s altar when it comes time to give ourselves over to the sacrificial act that the Lord is expecting. We just do not like handing over our vain inflated pride and human strength to be sacrificed on God’s altar, then put on the robe of meekness. I want to be in control and I want God to bless and authorize my choices for my life. Yeah well, good luck with that. Has this method worked for you so far?
God says in Matt. 5:5 Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are the teachable, for they will inherit a relationship with God that will transcend any notion of value that can be found anywhere on earth. Even though the promise is inheriting the earth, we will receive much more than God’s peace in this earth. Being teachable means; as the Lord’s lessons are applied we will grow into maturity, where we will be able to lay quietly upon God’s altar, presenting ourselves a living sacrifice. Our vanity will be cut away from our souls and we will bless the Lord in true worship.
Saul of Tarsus was blinded by the zeal he had for God. He could not see God’s new salvation plan. It was only after Saul had squirmed on God’s altar for a few days did his inflated pride get cut away, and he became a sacrifice of praise unto the Lord. He emerged from God’s altar as the Apostle Paul, who would go on to bring the gospel of Christ throughout the known world. Look at what the Lord can do when we present ourselves as living sacrifice.
Satan tempted David to take a census of Israel. 1Chron. 21:1 Satan stood up against Israel, and moved David to number Israel. You’re so vain David, you think the nation of Israel is about you. The devil had used David’s vanity of being a king and leader to ignore God’s authority over the nation. He started believing he was in control and overlooked the fact that Israel belonged to God and not to himself. Prov. 16:5 Everyone with a proud heart is detestable to the LORD; be assured, he will not go unpunished.
David had to lay down on the Lord’s altar to allow God’s judgment to bring forgiveness for his sin. 1Chron. 21:8 David said to God, “I have sinned very much by doing this thing. But now I beg You, take away the sin of Your servant for I have done a very foolish thing.” The result of this prideful sin cost a lot of people their lives. When we feel like God is being too demanding with our lives, it is not just for ourselves that God is transforming us from glory to glory. It is also for those who are in our sphere of influence. We are knitted together in Christ, and what one does affects another. Your miracle becomes my miracle, and your victory is my victory. Your blessing blesses me, but at the same time, your fall into sin affects my life too, because we are one in Christ.
The word narcissistic has been thrown around a lot in the last few years. Vainness had become a default setting in many people’s lives. Satan has not stopped using this juicy temptation on the human race. It worked on King David, and on millions of people before him right up to this day. We all have to look into the mirror of vanity and determine whether or not we will be seduced by its whispers of how great we are in ourselves. No saints. We are only great in God as long as God is leading us by His grace and righteousness. Psalm 18:35 You have given me your shield of victory. Your right hand supports me; your help has made me great. May we present ourselves a living sacrifice on God’s altar and enter into true worship. In Jesus name.
Thank you Larry
Yes that sentence felt good to my heart also. Blessings bro.
Really enjoined the reading, loved the play on that lyric, but this sentence!! "Blessed are the teachable, for they will inherit a relationship with God that will transcend any notion of value that can be found anywhere on earth" it got me.