Editors Note: The devotional has a background song by Brian Doerkenson
called 'Hope of the Nations' which can be heard if you use Internet
Explorer.
SCRIPTURE:
“At
once the girl hurried in to the king with the request: "I want you to
give me right now the head of John the Baptist on a platter." The king
was greatly distressed, but because of his oaths and his dinner guests,
he did not want to refuse her. So he immediately sent an executioner
with orders to bring John's head. The man went, beheaded John in the
prison, and brought back his head on a platter. He presented it to the
girl, and she gave it to her mother. On hearing of this, John's
disciples came and took his body and laid it in a tomb.” (Mark 6:25-29,
NIV)
Observation:
What is the king’s reaction to the
girl’s request?
The
king was greatly distressed!
What did
the king do?
-
But because of his oaths and his
dinner guests, he did not want to refuse her.
-
So
he immediately sent an executioner with orders to bring John's head.
Interpretation:
What do we
learn about King Herod?
Herod was not just distressed
with the girl’s request but GREATLY distressed. The distress was a lot
because he knew what she requested is something he did not want to give
her even though he promised to give anything. He did not expect her to
ask for John the Baptist’s head. Yet, that is what she asked!
He could have refused her so he
could do right and admit that he made a mistake but because of his oaths
and his dinner guests he did not want to refuse her. In essence, he let
pride take over him and was willing to let a prophet die because of his
pride.
This created a ripple effect and
pain to those who loved John the Baptist. On hearing what happened to
John the Baptist, his disciples came, took his body, and laid it in a
tomb.
Implications:
I saw important implications for
my own life. Keeping oaths and promises is very important but when it
endangers someone’s life or hurts someone else's life and we are able to
change it, I believe we should if we are not going against God's Word.
First of all, we should not even
make an oath or promise but let our ‘yes’ be ‘yes’ and our ‘no’ be ‘no’.
Herod was not willing to go that direction because of his pride.
I should not let my pride get in
the way of doing what is right. First of all this kind of pride is not
even biblical. It is the opposite of humility. No good comes out of this
kind of pride. It only hurts people because we put ourselves above
others when we have this kind of pride.
This type of pride is especially
dangerous in relationships because a relationship that is not based on
seeking the Lord first and each other second is bound to fail
eventually.
What happens is there is no
humility there because people start thinking about themselves instead of
'what would the Lord think of me
because of such an action’ and how would that action influence my
relationships.
Once the Lord is at the forefront of any relationship, I believe hurts
will be minimized a lot because both sides will be seeking to please the
Lord and love the Lord and in the process they could start pleasing each other. The
relationships will be built on humbling themselves before the Lord
before humbling themselves before each other.
Self wants and needs are covered
over by what God wants! Herod was so self-absorbed with his kingdom and
guests that he did not want to humble himself before the Lord and do the
right thing. Instead, he thought what other people might think of him if
he changed his mind on something that was wrong. This cost a person his
life.
The Lord placed humanity to be
in a relationship with each other. Any relationship should not be based
on pride and prejudice but should be based on humility and love. Once
pride creeps in, eventually there will come destruction without it being
covered over by humility. We may not even see it right away.
This happens even now.
Jesus made me see, while studying this passage, how I have let
pride influence me when I have not focused on the Lord. It is
pride that has caused a rift between myself and others in the past. I know Jesus
wants me to deal with that because Jesus is about building relationships
and encouraging others instead of tearing relationships and discouraging
others.
I asked myself why do I have pride?
At the forefront of pride, is my own sinful nature when I have not let
the Spirit guide me. Sadly, I want what I want when I want it and have
felt that pride will get me that. I have wanted others to think highly
of me so I have even tried to disassociate with certain people. More
than thinking highly of me, I don't want people to think less of me and
that became a pride issue too. Also,
just like Herod I don't like to be embarrassed in front of other people
so I have done things that are not Christ-like which I am not pleased
about. Having pride only lets me make Satan happy and not anyone I wanted
to establish a relationship whether it was family or friends so I need
the Lord's help to squash the pride.
Eventually, I have come to the point that I will not let pride dictate
what I share with others no matter how less they think of me but will be
humble and share what is on my mind depending on the Lord Jesus and
leaving the results in the Lord's hands.
Pride does not have to be individualistic but pride can be communal
too and there is danger in that too! Families and nations have been
destroyed because of pride.
There are
families who are so self-absorbed with pride of their accomplishments
that they want their children to follow in their footsteps. It is all
about what will society think about them if their children go another
path. So, many times children are forced to do things they may not want
and there is danger in that.
A pastor shared with me that when he was young and became a follower
of Christ after being a Hindu, his dad was so upset. His dad went and
got a Hindu priest to come talk to him about what he did. His dad might have had so much pride about
what others will think of him and his family after his son gave his life
to Christ that he could not bear it.
The pastor goes on to share how
he locked himself in the bathroom for hours that day and would not come
out until the Hindu priest eventually left his house. He was so scared
what his dad would do to him but he humbled himself before the Lord and
depended on Jesus to take care of him.
His story is amazing because
here I saw the results of
seeking the Lord in humility. Because of the young man’s love for the
Lord that love was exhibited towards his parents too. No matter how much
love was exhibited, he did not go against the Lord nor compromise his
principles and give into being a Hindu. There are things we cannot ever
go back to when we seek the Lord. He knew Jesus is the Absolute Truth
and the only Way, the Truth, and the Life to have a ticket to Heaven.
What the man did however is amazing because he wanted to show honor
to his dad that he was willing to hold of on being a pastor while his
dad was alive. Now he pastors a church in Chicago. His name is Reverend
Matthani.
Jesus
said, "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No man comes to the Father
except through me" (John 14:6)
We will continue to have pride in our lives unless we come to a point
to realize that our pride is because of our sin and only Christ can
deliver us because of what Jesus came to do. Only Christ can give a
transformation in our lives through the power of the Holy Spirit when we
ask Him to guide us and lead us instead of the flesh. If we do not, we
will join Satan's ways and it is his pride that led to his downfall.
I ask you
now dear friend, what has pride done to you?
Dear friend, pride can be
destructive in our lives. I am not talking about the pride of
accomplishing something but the pride that is the opposite of humility.
I know pride did affect my life in different ways until I humbled myself
before the Lord. I want to share with you a different story in my life
from the one above.
I care a lot about what people think about me and try to change to
please others as long as it does not compromise my principles,
compromise the Word of God, or my faith in Jesus Christ.
Because of my pride, I wanted to excel in all my studies and have
degrees in different fields such as Psychology with a 3.12/4.0 avg, Administration of Justice
with a 3.85/4.0, and Legal Studies (Major 4.0/4.0) with minors in
Mathematics (3.0 avg), Computer Science (3.0 avg), and Business (3.85
avg)!
These are
accomplishments I am excited about among others and if I was so focused
on pride and not Jesus Christ, what I am doing now I would not probably
be doing. I had to put my pride down because Jesus' love for me is more
important that I want to share that with others.
Students and non-students would
wonder what I am doing in the Food Service industry when I could do be
doing anything as high as United States Secret Service but it has never
been about money to me but reaching souls with the Gospel of Jesus
Christ.
I have felt that being in the food service industry has given me
hundreds of opportunities to reach out to many students with the love of
Christ because I work on a University campus as a manager in the food service industry and come
into contact with hundreds of students each day who I eventually build
relationships with outside of work.
One day out of the blue a
student gave me a puzzle that I had given many of them to solve in the
hopes also that they would go to
www.pittsburghstandard.com
and read the religious articles. Above the puzzle she had left a Bible
verse for me from Romans 8:31-32 which I needed. She told me what it
says too:
"What,
then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be
against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us
all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all
things?" (Romans 8:31-32, NIV)
That verse really ministered to
me and still ministers to me.
If I had let pride take over my
life then being in the food service industry would not have been
appealing to me with all my degrees and minors.
This does not mean I have not
lost opportunities because I have but I would rather lose opportunities
whether it is in a career or academia if I can
be at peace where the Lord keeps me. When I talk about peace, it cannot
contradict God's Word.
'I have a peace about it' is the lamest excuse to do something or not
do something if it is not God's peace. God's peace will not contradict
His Word.
Herod could have lost his
friends but he could have done what is right by telling Herodias’
daughter, ‘sorry I made a mistake, anything but that’ but his pride got
to him.
Pride got to me many times too.
I did not dare touch Psychology because I felt Psychology had no place
for Christians nor did I touch Philosophy but eventually when I humbled
myself before the Lord, I had no problem going into Psychology and also
was able to counsel many broken hearts with the love of Christ. Whether
they were involved in pornography, sexual abuse, verbal abuse,
relational breakdown, etc the Lord sent all them my way to counsel and
minister to them.
Eventually, I went on to become a campus minister for
a college fellowship (www.ivcf.org).
I also studied aspects of Philosophy and specialized in Apologetics (the
defense of the Christian faith) from a philosophical point of view. I
wanted to reach the students before the Philosophy professors instilled
doubts in them. I have had opportunities to do that and I thank the Lord
so much.
My Indian Hindu friends were
more shocked than my American friends because I was Indian with a last
name of 'Reddy' and went into
campus ministry and into the Food Service Industry.
It was
surprising for my dad too because ever since I was young I wanted to go
to Harvard Law School and become a lawyer. That changed in my junior
year of college and eventually I went on to work with InterVarsity
Christian Fellowship. Yet, the Lord has given me opportunities to study
law classes expand my academic horizons where I am at. I
still have wonderful opportunities to get to know the students from Campus
Crusade for Christ, InterVarsity Christian Fellowship, Asian Christian
Fellowship, Ambassadors for Christ, and Cornerstone ministry.
I do not think it would have
happened if I had pride and thought to myself that I am Indian and
Indians usually go into computer science, engineering, or being doctors,
etc not the food service industry. This does not mean those who pursue
prestigious careers do that because of pride. Neither does it mean they
are the only careers out there for people. I have friends who are
pursuing engineering, medicine, law, etc and still love the Lord Jesus
so much and want to do things for His honor and glory!
Personally, I knew if I humbled
myself and went into a field that was not highly respected in the Indian
community, it would be very difficult for marriage but I trusted in the
Lord and depended on Him to give me the One He chooses for me as I tell
him all I desire. I feel strongly that the Lord Jesus has sent someone
my way and I have to wait upon Him.
I am once again reminded of
Romans 8:31-32:
"What, then, shall we say in response to
this? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his
own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with
him, graciously give us all things?" (Romans 8:31-32, NIV)
Pride is about self and self can
destroy relationships. When pride is at the forefront, usually
accomplishments are emphasized because we think 'what our parents may
think, what our friends may think, etc if I go into this field, if I do
this job, if I date this person, or if I decide to marry this person.'
Worse yet, 'what may others
think if I am with this guy or girl when they do not meet the standards
of my parents, friends, etc.'
We want others approval so much,
many times we give up what we desire or even know maybe right for us.
Has that
happened to you friend?
I know it has happened to me. It
is easy to happen when our focus is taken of the Lord and we become so
self-absorbed. If it has happened, confess and repent of it to the Lord
and let Him work in your life. He will friend!
You can confess and repent of your shortcomings to the Lord including
your pride because of what Jesus already did for you. Friend, Jesus
humbled Himself and became obedient to death, death even on a cross for
your sake and mine. Jesus did not let pride get in the way thinking He
is God and He will not stoop low for humanity because He is perfect.
On the contrary, Jesus died on the cross for you so you can be set
free. His blood was shed on the cross for you and me friend so we can be
made whole, so vices such as pride, anger, resentment, etc can be nailed
to the cross. If it ended with Jesus' death on the cross there would be
no hope but Jesus came back to life to save you and me on the 3rd day.
We need to accept what Jesus did for us, get over our pride of what
others think if we give our lives to Jesus, and just do it. Give your
life to Jesus for He alone can transform your life and give you a new
beginning. This is not to say that everything will be peachy in our
lives but the Lord will strengthen us through the trials.
I know for I have been there! When my dad went into cardiac
arrest and eventually 70 days later went to be with the Lord Jesus Christ, it
was hard on our family and we lost a lot of money financially too and
still are recuperating from a $12,000 dollars debt but Jesus is helping
us get through it day by day.
Friend, the Lord has given us
free will even as Christians and will not force us to do something. If
He convicts you of something He wants you to do, accomplish, or become
it is because of His love for you and He knows what will be better for
you in the long run even if you feel you do not like something for the
moment.
He is the Author of Life and
knows about our life. I have found that we will sometimes come to love
things that we never would have as we focus on the Lord and His love for
us transforms us that what He wants become our own desires. I never
thought I would love Psychology but that changed in God's timing as I
sought the Lord.
I would be wrong to say that I
have not struggled sometimes with my job but I am happy. It has not been
about the money for me. It never was and the Lord has always provided.
Of course our flesh will make us think thoughts we would not have if we walk in the Spirit.
I have had thoughts that I had
to put behind me such as, “Maybe if I remained a Hindu and got this
prestigious job, I would have been able to marry a beautiful Indian girl
long time ago” or “Not having a prestigious job can be so hard to find
the right person to marry since Indian culture emphasizes a lot about
prestige.”
If I dwelt on those thoughts it
would have affected my relationship with the Lord and I would have
started to question the Lord and His ways.
I am so happy the Lord has
chosen me and since He has chosen me and I continue to do things in
faith, whatever happens I know I am under His precious care whatever
area of my life it is. I know if I am doing things in faith thinking
they are what the Lord wants me to do even if I mess up He will correct
it before it is too late. He will take me in another direction! Thank
you Jesus!
Friend, when Jesus went to the cross, He chose you too friend. When
Jesus died on the cross, Jesus made a way for you to come to Him. On our
own we never can come to Christ but because of what Christ already did
to forgive the sin of humanity, we will have our sins forgiven when we
accept Jesus into our heart and choose to live for Him.
Sometimes we have to put
thoughts aside so they do not affect our actions. I put them aside and
glorify Jesus and praise Jesus for saving me and providing an
opportunity to do what brings Him glory on campus, glory through the
newspaper, and through my job He has blessed me with. I know where the
Lord has called, He will always provide by equipping, enabling, and
empowering.
It is in Jesus Christ and in Him
alone can we truly be humble. This will make a huge difference in our
relationships whether they are with our Heavenly Father, with family,
with friends including boyfriend-girl/ husband-wife relationships. Jesus
will take care of us when we depend on Him and not our pride.
I decided to look at some of the
verses dealing with pride.
“But after Uzziah became powerful, his pride led to his downfall. He was
unfaithful to the LORD his God, and entered the temple of the LORD to
burn incense on the altar of incense.” (2 Chronicles 26:16, NIV)
“Then Hezekiah repented of the pride of his heart, as did the people of
Jerusalem; therefore the LORD's wrath did not come upon them during the
days of Hezekiah.” (2 Chronicles 32:26, NIV)
“In
his pride the wicked does not seek him; in all his thoughts there is no
room for God.” (Psalm 10:4, NIV)
“To
fear the LORD is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior
and perverse speech.” (Proverbs 8:13, NIV)
“When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.”
(Proverbs 11:2, NIV)
“Pride only
breeds quarrels, but wisdom is found in those who take advice.”
(Proverbs 13:10, NIV)
“Pride goes
before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.” (Proverbs 16:18,
NIV)
“A
man's pride brings him low, but a man of lowly spirit gains honor.”
(Proverbs 29:23, NIV)
“But when his heart became arrogant and hardened with pride, he was
deposed from his royal throne and stripped of his glory.” (Daniel 5:20,
NIV)
“What
causes fights and quarrels among you? Don't they come from your desires
that battle within you? You want something but don't get it. You kill
and covet, but you cannot have what you want. You quarrel and fight. You
do not have, because you do not ask God. When you ask, you do not
receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you
get on your pleasures….That is why Scripture says: "God opposes the
proud but gives grace to the humble." Submit yourselves, then, to God.
Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he
will come near to you….Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will
lift you up.” (James 4:1-3, 6-8, 10)
Friend after having my
devotional with the Lord learning about pride, I do not think that
anyone who does a prestigious job are not doing God’s will. There are
those who do prestigious jobs according to the world’s standards and yet
are doing God’s will because the Lord has called them to that.
Personally, I think those who
are pastors/campus ministers/priests, etc have a prestigious job because
they are doctors of the souls whom the Lord has placed in people’s paths
to lead them to Him and away from the enemy. Not only that, I believe
when people’s souls are saved, their earthly life changes too because
they seek after the Lord Jesus Christ and His will. If everybody seeks
after the Lord in the professions they are in then we would have a much
better world than the world we live in.
If the Lord calls me back into full-time ministry I want to choose to go whether it be with InterVarsity,
Campus Crusade for Christ, or wherever! I want to wait upon Him in
humility and so should you whatever you are doing so you can know what
the Lord wants for you!
You need to know many years ago, it was PRIDE that was eventually my
downfall when I was serving in InterVarsity Christian Fellowship. Pride
is that much more dangerous in ministry.
I thought I knew better than the entire team I was serving with and
brought pain to PH, CP, OF, TG with my actions.
I thought I should only be the one to be doing EXEC TRAINING
for the group instead of submitting and doing Bible Study Leaders
Training as they wanted me to. It was not an experience that I am proud
to talk about. That was only the tip of the iceberg caused by PRIDE but
I know our Lord is a God of reconciliation and restoration. I thank the
Lord for that.
I am also very thankful to the Lord that my supervisors never
completely closed the door on IVCF ministry but said at the time: 'Now
is not the time but that does not mean IVCF ministry is not your calling
in the future'
I know IVCF ministry will only be for me if the Lord chooses me
through them to serve once again in IVCF ministry either in a full-time
campus ministry role or as a staff volunteer of IVCF at Pitt & CMU. It
is to student ministry I know I am still called too even through all
these years. I wait upon the Lord and choose to go wherever He wants me
to.
Right now wherever the Lord Jesus has placed me, I need to humbly
serve without pride and let Him lead me. The Lord Jesus has given me
opportunity to lead and serve Living Acts cell group of Oakland
International Fellowship right now.
If we however go our own way to
achieve our prestige without consulting the Lord, that’s where problems
arise. Because of that somewhere in the world peoples’ relationships
incredibly dissolve everyday! For us not to be a cause of it, we should
ask Jesus Christ to reign in our lives and reign in over all our dreams,
etc!
You may have doubts to surrender your life completely over to the
Master and sign a blank page allowing Jesus to fill the blank page but
remember Jesus loves you so much and no matter what is asked of you or
happens, you are in His precious care for even death or martyrdom cannot
take that away. The fruit that comes out of the experience of being with
the Lord will impact many lives including your own.
It starts with not being prideful but willing to surrender totally to
Jesus. When we do that we can have confidence to
sign the pledge below in front of a witness. This pledge was given by
Dr. George Murray last week during our Missions Conference at Oakland
International Fellowship.
"The pledge says, 'Lord Jesus, ANYTHING, ANYTIME, ANYWHERE, I am
ready!'
Signed ____________, Date _________ "
"On the inside it says, MY DECISION
By signing the front of this card, today I decide that Jesus Christ
is Lord and Master of my life. I no longer want to merely include God in
my plans. I want God to include me in His plan, whatever that means,
whatever the cost.
ANYTHING, ANYTIME, ANYWHERE
Witnessed by _______________"
I
cannot do it on my own strength but by the strength He gives me. I am
comforted by the promises in Psalm 121 which is a favorite song of mine
and Romans 8 which is a favorite chapter of mine.
May you know that Jesus Christ
will help you handle the pride of the flesh and fill you with the peace
of the Holy Spirit! Amen!
“Peoples’
Relationships Incredibly Dissolve Everyday!” (P.R.I.D.E)/”What
has pride done to you?”
Prayer:
Dear Lord Jesus, my Lord and Savior, thank you so much for your love in
our lives. Oh Lord, I learned this week about Herod and his actions.
Lord, he let his pride come in the way of saving John the Baptists'
life. Forgive us Oh Lord because we have let pride come in the way of
relationships and especially our relationship with you when we have
thought what other people think if they know we know you Lord. Forgive
us! Help us to please present you to those around us. Help us to be
humble and depend on you than letting pride take control of our lives.
You Oh Lord know what we are faced with and we need your intervention
and help so please help us Lord. We pray right now for the one who is
suffering and down because of things happening in their lives because
they have humbled themselves before you and the world sees it as bad.
Thank you that you will give them strength to endure and go on with you
on their side. Help them to have your joy in their lives and help us all
to humble ourselves before you knowing you will lift us up for that is
your promise! Thank you so much Jesus! Thank you for hearing us and
answering us! We acknowledge you as our Lord and Personal Savior! Thank
you for dying for our sin and coming back to life to save us. Touch and
heal hearts Oh Lord. Thank you so much Jesus you have heard our prayers
and answered us! In Your Name I Pray Jesus! Amen!
May you be uplifted knowing
Deliverer openly understands bringing total Salvation! Amen!
If
you would like to invite Jesus Christ into your heart and make Him a
daily part of your life, you can this very moment. You will never be
alone. You can claim God's promises for you in the Bible and see them
come true, before your eyes, in His wonderful timing. You don't have to
wait for a special time to come to the Lord. You can come right now as
you pray this prayer, meaning it in your heart and finding your new
identity in Christ Jesus.
Prayer:
Dear Jesus, I am a sinner Lord. I am so sorry for
my sins. I confess my sins to you. I confess the wrong things I have
done and the times I messed up my own life. I need you Lord right now and in the
years to come. I have gone my own way and have not found what only you
can give me. You alone have the words of Eternal Life. You alone love me
unconditionally for who I am. I thank you Jesus. Thank you for going to
the cross for me, for dying for my sins, shedding your precious blood
for me, so I can me made whole. I am covered by your blood Lord! I come
as I am and accept you Jesus into
my heart. Please come into my heart Jesus. Please make my heart your
home. Please live in me Jesus. Thanks Jesus for coming into my heart and
living in me. Thank you for forgiving me
of all my sins. Thank you for giving me a new identity in you. I
acknowledge you as my Lord and Personal Savior as I believe in my heart
that you died and came back to life to save me now and forever. I give
myself to you and ask you to be in control of my life. Thank you Jesus
through the days, we can do things together. Thanks for being my
Lord and Personal Savior. Thank you Jesus you have heard my prayer and
answered me. Thanks Jesus for changing me and helping me through life's
storms and winds. In Your Name I Pray Jesus! Amen!
