May the mumbling commence!
Pride comes before the fall. This is a message not only for individuals
but for nations as well. Hear it well, O
United States! Read from Ezekiel chapter
thirty-one:
"Son of man, give this message to Pharaoh, king of
Egypt, and all his people: To whom would you compare your greatness? You are as Assyria was – a great and mighty
nation. Assyria, too, was once like a cedar of Lebanon, full of thick branches
that cast deep forest shade with its top high among the clouds. Deep springs watered it and helped it to grow
tall and luxuriant. The water was so abundant that there was enough for all the
trees nearby. This great tree towered
above all the other trees around it. It prospered and grew long thick branches
because of all the water at its roots. The
birds nested in its branches, and in its shade all the wild animals gave birth
to their young. All the great nations of the world lived in its shadow. It was strong and beautiful, for its roots
went deep into abundant water. This tree
became taller than any of the other cedars in the garden of God. No cypress had
branches equal to it; no plane tree had boughs to compare. No tree in the
garden of God came close to it in beauty.
Because of the magnificence I gave this tree, it was the envy of all the
other trees of Eden, the garden of God.
Therefore, this is what the Sovereign Lord says: Because it became proud and arrogant, and because it set itself so high above the
others, reaching to the clouds, I handed it over to a mighty nation that destroyed it as its wickedness deserved. I myself discarded it. A foreign army – the terror of the nations – cut it down and left it fallen on the
ground. Its branches were scattered
across the mountains and valleys and ravines of the land. All those who lived
beneath its shadow went away and left it lying there. The birds roosted on its fallen trunk, and
the wild animals lay among its branches. Let no other
nation proudly exult in its own prosperity, though it be higher than the
clouds, for all are doomed. They will land in the pit along with all the proud
people of the world.”
(Verses 2-14)
The proud and arrogant nations will be destroyed and
discarded as rubbish. They will be
gathered into a burn pile – thrown in the burning pit – and be consumed in fire. May we listen and obey and turn from our
pride and arrogant boasting!
Let us not be offended by the words that our Lord speaks
to us. Human effort alone will amount to
nothing. Let’s remain connected to the
vine! Read from John chapter six:
Jesus knew within himself that his disciples were complaining,
so he said to them, "Does this offend
you? Then what will you think if you
see me, the Son of Man, return to heaven again?
It is the Spirit who gives eternal life. Human effort accomplishes nothing. And the very words I have spoken
to you are spirit and life. But some of
you don't believe me." (For Jesus knew from the beginning who
didn't believe, and he knew who would betray him.) Then he said, "That is what I meant when I said that
people can't come to me unless the Father brings them to me."
(Verses 61-65)
Let’s partake of the life of Christ. Let’s incorporate all his Ways into the fiber
of our being. That’s the way to eternal
life.
Enough mumbling for now…
Peace Out
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