Once in a while I feel led by God to help and encourage a friend of mine and it is like looking in a mirror and seeing myself as I was for a long time before God took a sledgehammer to my pride and stubbornness and began to teach me how to live humbly and yielded, submitted, and surrendered to Him.
My sweet friend tends to resist and rebel and her sweetness takes the back burner as she puts up somewhat of a fight. Even as I deliver the messages I believe God puts on my heart to bring to her to help her grow in her relationship with Him, she is prone to interrupting, defending herself, seeming to refuse the loving help and correction, and to quickly change the subject or rapidly get off the phone. She sincerely loves the Lord and is extremely devoted to Him, but she comes across anyway in these occurrences as somewhat prideful and stubborn.
Now I truly think of myself as the worst of all sinners, and my pride and stubbornness and downright rebellion for years – without repentance mind you – was downright terrible and surely grieved God beyond measure. I am not writing this to point the finger at my dear friend, but to lovingly encourage you to search you own heart and life before God to see where you stand.
Pride even in our thoughts is abominable to God, and stubbornness is another sin we must get rid of. Rebellion which seems to go hand in hand with pride and stubbornness, this surely God hates.
Would you join me, friend, in being careful not to fall into any of this – and to repent when God shows you that you have any of it?
My sins are far worse than my friend’s in my estimate anyway, but no matter the nature or the degree of sin, all sin needs to be purged from our hearts and lives.
Let us cleanse ourselves continually of it all! Amen!
“Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.” 2 Corinthians 7:1 NKJV
“Everyone proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD; Though they join forces, none will go unpunished.” Proverbs 16:5 NKJV
“So Samuel said: “Has the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, As in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, And to heed than the fat of rams. For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, And stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, He also has rejected you from being king.”” 1 Samuel 15:22-23 NKJV
“If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.” 1 John 1:8-10 NKJV
DISCLAIMER: My friend I have written of is one of God’s greatest blessings to me on this earth. I praise Him for giving me such an amazing gift as her and her friendship. She is a beautiful faithful follower of Jesus and a phenomenal friend who like all of us is human and just like we all do needs the loving transformation that comes by the beautiful heart and hand of God almighty!