How can we avoid the prideful mistakes of Moab in our lives today? Moab’s Lament: A Wake-Up Call “ “How it is shattered! How they wail! How Moab has turned his back in shame! So Moab has become a derision and a horror to all who surround him.” ” (Jeremiah 48:39) Identifying Moab’s Prideful Errors • Trusted long-standing comforts (Jeremiah 48:11) and felt untouchable • Boasted in achievements and might (Jeremiah 48:7) rather than in the Lord • Mocked God’s people (Jeremiah 48:27) and dismissed divine warnings • Refused repentance even as judgment drew near (Jeremiah 48:29–30) Timeless Warnings: What Pride Does to Us • Separates us from God’s favor — “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” (James 4:6) • Blinds us to sin until consequences fall suddenly — “Pride goes before destruction.” (Proverbs 16:18) • Turns former strengths into ridicule, just as Moab became “a derision” (Jeremiah 48:39) • Invites spiritual downfall even for believers who feel secure — “Let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.” (1 Corinthians 10:12) Guarding Our Hearts Today • Examine motives daily with Scripture’s mirror (Psalm 139:23-24) • Celebrate victories by praising God, not self (1 Corinthians 10:31) • Receive correction quickly, whether from the Word or fellow believers (Proverbs 27:6) • Remember past deliverances to keep dependence fresh (Deuteronomy 8:11-14) • Serve unnoticed and thankless tasks to cultivate lowliness (John 13:14-15) Putting Humility into Practice 1. Start mornings acknowledging God’s sovereign rule (Proverbs 3:5-6). 2. Keep a gratitude list focused on His gifts, not personal merit (1 Thessalonians 5:18). 3. Speak of others’ accomplishments more than your own (Philippians 2:3). 4. Confess sin promptly before it hardens the heart (1 John 1:9). 5. Give generously and anonymously when possible (Matthew 6:3-4). 6. Seek ways to reconcile quickly, refusing to nurse offense (Ephesians 4:32). 7. Close each day recalling that every breath is sustained by the Lord (Acts 17:28). Living this way keeps us from repeating Moab’s downfall and ensures God receives the glory He alone deserves. |
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