Christ within You .010.6

 I had another thought to share but today's study of Pastor Hoekstra's posts speaks to the situations of today with some clearness so here goes:

Scorn for the Scornful, Grace for the Humble:

Surely He scorns the scornful, but gives grace to the humble. (Proverbs 3:34)

The scriptures emphasize the Lord's commitment to pour out grace upon those who walk in humility, while opposing the path of those who walk in pride. "But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: 'GOD resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble' . . . Be clothed with humility, for 'GOD resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble' . . . Though the LORD is on high, Yet He regards the lowly; But the proud He knows from afar" (James 4:6; 1Peter 5:5; and Psalm138:6). In our present verse we have another pointed example. "Surely He scorns the scornful, but gives grace to the humble."

It is an absolute certainty that the LORD will scorn the scornful. "Surely He scorns the scornful." The scornful person shows arrogant disregard for the LORD and His righteous ways. The scornful one is a mocker of godliness and a boaster in wickedness. The LORD will assuredly scorn such people. He will treat them with a holy disdain. He will reject their path with holy contempt.

For so many of us who have a heart for the LORD, walking scornfully before the LORD is not a likely threat. However, somewhat related attitudes may become a part of our walk (even inadvertently). Pride and haughtiness are two of the most common, and most deadly. "Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall" (Proverbs 16:18). These companion evils can be summarized as self-exaltation. Such an approach to life always results in devastating downfalls. These attitudes and their consequences are most fully illustrated by the history of the devil himself. Before he became the ultimate rebel against GOD, he was a magnificent, privileged angelic being. "You were the anointed cherub who covers; I established you; you were on the holy mountain of GOD . . . You were perfect in your ways from the day you were created, till iniquity was found in you." (Eze. 28:14-15). This iniquity that developed was self-exaltation. "How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! . . . For you have said in your heart: . . . I will be like the Most High" (Isa. 14:12-14). This haughty exalting of self brought a disastrous fall, which will end up forever in hell itself.

May we daily chose to walk with God's humble saints, refusing to join the ranks of the proud, with their self-advancing schemes. "Better to be of a humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud" (Pro. 16:19).

LORD God Most High, I request forgiveness for the times that I have exalted myself over Your word by deed or attitude. I renounce the prideful path of self-advancing humanity. I want to identify with Your humble saints, looking to You to shape and use our lives through Your abounding grace, Amen."

My own thought for this post was a bit different, it dealing with wisdom and how to acquire wisdom. But can you see what I mean with this sharing, how does all that we are facing these days can be summed up herein?