Learn to Reject Pride

Greetings,

            Another reading from Charles H. Spurgeon (one of the greatest English preachers in the 19^th century).

            “Son of man, what is the vine tree more than any tree, or than a branch which is among the trees of the forest?”  (Ezekiel 15:2).

            [Peterson translates it: “Son of man, how would you compare the wood of a vine with the branches of any tree you’d find in the forest?”] 

            These words are for the humbling of God’s people.  They are called God’s vine.  They, by God’s goodness, have become fruitful, having been planted in a good soul.  The Lord has trained the on the walls of the sanctuary, and they bring forth fruit to His glory.  But what are they without their God?  What are they without the continual influence of the Spirit?  Or, believer, learn to reject pride, seeing that you have no ground for it.  Whatever you are, you have nothing to make you proud.  The more you have, the more you are in debt to God.  Consider your origin!  Look back to what you were.  Consider what you would have been but for divine grace.  Look upon yourself as you are now.  Does your conscience reproach you?  And if He has made you anything, are you not taught that it is grace which has made you to differ?  You would have been a great sinner if God had not changed you.  Therefore, do not be proud, though you have a large estate—a wide domain of grace; once you did not have a single thing to call your own except your sin and misery.

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Read the whole fifteenth chapter.  In this day, in our society, as much if not more than ever, we need Spurgeon’s reminder of the proper perspective.

Yours & His,

DED