38 lines
4.5 KiB
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38 lines
4.5 KiB
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<title>Blue Letter Bible: Day By Day By Grace — Bob Hoekstra</title>
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Day By Day By Grace
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Bob Hoekstra
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October 1
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<h1>Scorn for the Scornful, Grace for the Humble</h1>
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<div class="block"><i><b>Surely</b> He <b>scorns</b> the <b>scornful</b>, but gives <b>grace</b> to the <b>humble</b>.</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Pro', 3, '34-34');">Proverbs 3:34</a>)</div>
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<p>The Scriptures emphasize the Lord's commitment to pour out <b>grace</b> upon those who walk in <b>humility</b>, while <b>opposing</b> the path of those who walk in <b>pride</b>. <i>"But He gives more <b>grace</b>. Therefore He says: 'God <b>resists</b> the <b>proud</b>, but gives <b>grace</b> to the <b>humble</b>'…Be clothed with <b>humility</b>, for 'God <b>resists</b> the <b>proud</b>, but gives <b>grace</b> to the <b>humble</b>'… Though the <b>LORD</b> is on high, Yet He <b>regards</b> the <b>lowly</b>; But the <b>proud</b> He <b>knows</b> from <b>afar</b>"</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Jam', 4, '6-6');">James 4:6</a>; <a onClick="return mV('1Pe', 5, '5-5');">1 Peter 5:5</a>; and <a onClick="return mV('Psa', 138, '6-6');">Psalm 138:6</a>). In our present verse we have another pointed example. <i>"<b>Surely</b> He <b>scorns</b> the <b>scornful</b>, but gives <b>grace</b> to the <b>humble</b>."</i></p>
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<p>It is an absolute certainty that the Lord will scorn the scornful. <i>"<b>Surely</b> He <b>scorns</b> the <b>scornful</b>."</i> The scornful person shows arrogant disregard for the Lord and His righteous ways. He 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.</p>
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<p>For so many of us who have a heart for the Lord, walking scornfully before the Lord is not a likely attitude. 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. <i>"<b>Pride</b> goes before destruction, and a <b>haughty</b> spirit before a fall"</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Pro', 16, '18-18');">Proverbs 16:18</a>). These companion evils could both be summarized as <b>self-exaltation</b>. 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. <i>"You were the anointed cherub who covers; I established you; you were on the holy mountain of God …You were <b>perfect</b> in your ways from the day you were created, <b>till iniquity</b> was found in you"</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Eze', 28, '14-15');">Ezekiel 28:14-15</a>). This iniquity that developed was <b>self-exaltation</b>. <i>"How you are <b>fallen</b> from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning!…For you have <b>said</b> in your <b>heart</b>:…<b>I will be like the Most High</b>"</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Isa', 14, '12-14');">Isaiah 14:12-14</a>). This haughty exalting of self brought a disastrous fall, which will end up forever in hell itself.</p>
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<p>May we choose daily to walk with God's humble saints, refusing to join the ranks of the proud, with their self-advancing schemes. <i>"<b>Better</b> to be of a <b>humble</b> spirit with the <b>lowly</b>, than to <b>divide</b> the <b>spoil</b> with the <b>proud</b>"</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Pro', 16, '19-19');">Proverbs 16:19</a>).</p>
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<div class="dbdbg_prayer">Lord God Most High, I repent of the times that I have exalted myself in word or 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.</div>
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