We know the story of Jesus riding into Jerusalem on the foal of a donkey – a colt. This in itself was a miracle.
A donkey, an adult donkey was usually broken and allowed a rider without bucking and kicking, and throwing the rider from its back.
A colt though, is a young donkey, and it’s far from broken. How could Jesus ride on the back of a colt and not get thrown off? Because Jesus had supernaturally broken the colt. He had shown the disciples and His followers a miracle that couldn’t be mistaken.
We were, or are, all colts in some, shape or form. Before salvation, most of us think that the world revolves around us. Sometimes after salvation, a few of forget that the world doesn’t revolve around us.
The apostle Paul, then Saul, had to be completely broken – losing his eyesight in an encounter with Jesus, then spending three years in Arabia.
Joseph had to be completely broken, losing that prideful streak, by being tossed into a pit, sold to the Egyptians, and after thirteen years of preparation, emerging as Israel’s savior as Viceroy of Egypt, the second in command.
David had to flee after his anointing as the future king… after becoming king, he felt entitled, and took Bathsheeba, the wife of one his soldiers, impregnated her, then knocked off her husband to cover up the sin. He had to be knocked down a bunch of pegs, and the death of the resulting child did just that.
Pride is one of the biggest examples of being unbroken. If you’re prideful, you think you’re invincible. You don’t need anyone or anything. Your success is yours, and you did it yourself.
God hates pride – it is self idolatry, and God will not permit anything or anyone to take the glory, praise, honor or worship, that is rightfully His!
Proverbs 16:18 is the most well known verses in pride and hautiness. Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.
Pride however, is addressed 51 times in the Bible, and haughtiness another 24. That’s 76 times in the Bible that God addresses the subject, He hates it that much.
Isaiah chapter 2 is especially direct.
Verse 11, “The lofty looks of man shall be humbled, The haughtiness of men shall be bowed down, And the Lord alone shall be exalted in that day.”
Verse 17, “The loftiness of man shall be bowed down, And the haughtiness of men shall be brought low; The Lord alone will be exalted in that day,”
Both verses prove that God alone gets the worship and adoration, not us. When we get haughty and prideful, God will put that down – always.
Look at your own life – was there ever a time when you found that circumstances took you to a point so low, that the only way to look, was up?
God has a way of dealing with people. As a kid, when you got, as my mother used to say, “too big for your britches,” a parent has a way of putting you back in your place. The same with God – He’s your Heavenly Father, and like a good parent, will discipline us when we get out of line
This means that when we get too big for our britches, He’s going to allow certain things to happen, to get our attention, and get us back in line. the sooner you pick up on this discipline, and submit to it, the easier it will be.
But most of us, don’t pick up on it so easily, and our Heavenly Father has to ratchet up the discipline. Hey, God knows which of your buttons to push, and He will push them. If He wants your attention, He’s gonna get it, one way or another. The more you rebel, kick and buck – like that unbroken colt – the more severe the discipline.
We’ve all been there at some point in our lives. Again, think back in your own life, when was it?
For me, I had a good career in broadcasting. I made it from on air to management at a young age. I got to a point where I thought I was invincible. When my orders weren’t followed, I had no problem with firing people. I surrounded myself with yes-men. The crux was when a station was directed to change formats and call sign, and the station manager didn’t follow through. In fact, it was an act of defiance and insubordination. I flew in unannounced to that city, went to the station, and fired three quarters of the staff, two days before Christmas.
Yes, I was a horrible person. Anyone loyal to that station manager, had to go. God, however, had other plans for me. He had to knock me down a hundred or more pegs. He had to put me back in my place.
That’s when I was brought into ministry, using my talents with producing and creating radio and television programs for ministry, but again, it went to my head – hey, I was good at it, receiving accolades from a few national Christian networks, but I wasn’t getting the message – making a lot less money, and just off fighting (and winning against) cancer – God was allowing these to come into my life to humble me – and like an impetuous child, I wasn’t getting it.
God had to line up circumstances to put me in a place where I could reflect on just what I was doing, and where I needed to go in my life, it took over a year, but with the help of several good men, I was finally able to see it, and get it.
This is the “Cliff Notes” version, I’m just skimming the surface – but the point is, pride and haughtiness gets you nothing but grief, and discipline from your Heavenly Father. It starts with a stern talking too, and may end up with Him taking you to the woodshed.
Think your stuff don’t stink? Think again my friend. If you’re “going through it,” yes, it might be God showing you something to grow you, but it might be discipline. Take a good hard look at yourself and ask God to show you, have you been prideful or haughty?
We need to be living for something greater than ourselves, and when we’re prideful, we’re only thinking of ourselves. That puts us on the throne, instead of Christ who rightfully belongs there.
What did God tell Moses in the first commandment? Exodus chapter 20 and verse 3, “You shall have no other gods before me.” God said, He meant it! He yields His glory to no one.
The hymn, “To God Be The Glory” says it all:
To God be the glory, great things he hath done!
So loved he the world that he gave us his Son,
who yielded his life an atonement for sin,
and opened the lifegate that all may go in.
God gets the glory, not you. You can’t give your child to die for another’s sin, only God the Father can do that and He did!
We are His creations, we worship our Creator, and our Creator gets the glory, not His creations.
Again, examine yourself, and ask yourself, what’s it gonna be? Will you submit to the will of your Father, or will you be rebellious, buck and kick against His will for your life?
The answer could well determine how much discipline you’ll have to endure, and having endured it myself, I don’t recommend it.
The #Heb10 Church 