Daily Treasure

“Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight…” (Psalm 51:4a).

Psalm 51 is a portrait of repentance. We can feel the anguish of David’s heart as he poured it out to God.  What David had done impacted the lives of others. He had sinned against God.  He could have blamed others but, he knew in his heart it was his fault.   We can sense the agony in verse eleven when he asks God to “take not thy holy spirit from me.”

If pride has left a feeling of void in your life, repent.  God stands ready to forgive and restore your joy.

Sue Winchester
Missouri

PRAY TOGETHER: Pray for leaders in your church or community who may be struggling with pride and/or hidden sin.

“And David said unto Nathan, I have sinned against the Lord” (2 Samuel 12:13a).

The past two weeks we have dealt with the consequences and indicators of pride. Some may be left wondering if there is hope for the prideful heart. Yes, there is a remedy. It is found in the word “repentance.”  The blood of Jesus can cover this ugly sin.  As with all sin, one must come to terms with that sin.  Admit it.  This is the first step.  If David hadn’t faced up to his sin, his relationship with God would not have been restored.

It is only when we realize our wrong that we can ever make things right.  For the person with a prideful heart, this means swallowing that pride and, with a humble heart, returning to God.

Sue Winchester
Missouri

PRAY TOGETHER: Pray for associate missionaries Jim and Sylvia Martin as they minister in Rochester, NY.

“But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ”(Ephesians 4:7).

If anything should unite a church, it is the grace of God. God gave us all grace when He saved us. However, that grace didn’t stop after salvation. He gives special gifts to help us serve Him.  He knows our strengths and weaknesses so He distributes them as He sees fit.

He also knows what the Body of Christ on this earth needs to carry out His mission. God administers gifts for the mutual good of those in the church. They are used to bind together believers who desire to serve Him and one another.

Sue Winchester
Missouri

PRAY TOGETHER: Pray for the Tuesday Friend’s Café hosted each week by the Koinonia Church in Ebetsu, Japan. Pray many commuters and passersby will come inside for tea, coffee, snacks, and conversation with missionaries and Japanese believers, and be drawn to Christ through this means.

“The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican” (Luke 18:11).

If ever a group of people exemplified the word “pride,” it was the Pharisees.  I  can picture them in their long garments with special trim, wearing their little Scripture boxes, and boasting about how good they were and all the good they did.

It was all for show.  Their hearts were far from God.  God called them “hypocrites.”  They felt superior to others and were quick to point out that fact (as in the verse above).

How about you? Are the scales starting to fall from your eyes? Check your motives. Is there a bit of Pharisee in you?

Next week we will learn about the antidote that will counteract this poison called pride.

Sue Winchester
Missouri

PRAY TOGETHER: Pray for Elizabeth Hodges as she attends all day Friday/Saturday Convention Meeting Planning classes throughout this month.

“He is in the way of life that keepeth instruction: but he that refuseth reproof erreth” (Proverbs 10:17).

Another indication of pride comes in our inability to take correction or criticism. The prideful are never wrong.  It’s almost futile to try to point out any flaws in their thinking or actions.  What makes this worse is they can cause others to err.

Even though it hurts our pride to face reproof, we can learn from our mistakes. But, if we’re so proud and we don’t want to listen,  how can anyone help us become the persons God desires?

Sue Winchester
Missouri

PRAY TOGETHER: Pray that pastors and denominational leaders who receive more than their share of complaints, will receive these with a spirit of humility and both accept and apply any truths within the criticisms.

Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee?” (Matthew 18:33).*

When people are so wrapped up in themselves, they will be slow to forgive and will show little compassion. Even though others forbear and show mercy, the prideful won’t extend the same courtesy.  Today’s verse is part of a parable of forgiveness.  When mercy was shown to the one man, he should have, in turn, shown the same to one who came to him asking for mercy.  If we are that proud, if we can’t forgive and show mercy, what should we expect from God?

Sue Winchester
Missouri

PRAY TOGETHER: Identify any prideful attitudes or practices. Pray that humility, rather than pride, would characterize your life today.

“But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession, and kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles’ feet. But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land? Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God. And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost: and great fear came on all them that heard these things. And the young men arose, wound him up, and carried him out, and buried him. And it was about the space of three hours after, when his wife, not knowing what was done, came in. And Peter answered unto her, Tell me whether ye sold the land for so much? And she said, Yea, for so much. Then Peter said unto her, How is it that ye have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? behold, the feet of them which have buried thy husband are at the door, and shall carry thee out. Then fell she down straightway at his feet, and yielded up the ghost: and the young men came in, and found her dead, and, carrying her forth, buried her by her husband” (Acts 5:1-10).

Another pride indicator is in thinking it would be easier to tell a lie in order to protect your so-called image. In the history of the early church we find a couple of prideful people. Ananias and Sapphira. They had sold a piece of property.  They didn’t have to donate any of it to help the needy of the church. They plotted to give a portion of the money and claimed it was the full price.  Others were giving great amounts and they didn’t want to be embarrassed.  However, they weren’t lying to the church, they were lying to God. One at a time they came and shared their lie. Each one was struck dead.  Their plot backfired.

When pride sets in, it seems we will want to say or do anything to cover up the person we’ve become.  Lying becomes a progressive thing. After a while, you won’t know what truth looks like.  If you see a red flag come up with any of pride’s indicators, it’s time to face the truth.

Sue Winchester
Missouri

PRAY TOGETHER: Pray that many WAC groups and local churches will plan to observe PreThanksgiving Week of Prayer, November 12-16.