How can we guard against pride as warned in Ezekiel 16:57? The Warning in Ezekiel 16:57 “before your wickedness was uncovered? Even so, you are now the scorn of the daughters of Aram and all those around her, of the daughters of the Philistines—those all around who despise you.” (Ezekiel 16:57) God exposes Jerusalem’s sin so the city becomes a public example. Pride had blinded her to her own corruption until judgment stripped away every disguise. The same danger lurks for us whenever self-exaltation creeps in. Tracing the Root: Why Pride Takes Hold • Forgetting God’s mercy (Deuteronomy 8:11-14) • Comparing ourselves with others instead of with God’s holiness (Luke 18:11-14) • Resting in past victories rather than present obedience (1 Corinthians 10:12) • Enjoying external blessings while neglecting inner character (Revelation 3:17) Practical Guardrails Against Pride Cultivate daily gratitude • “Every good and perfect gift is from above” (James 1:17). • Keep a running record of God’s provisions; thank Him aloud. Keep close accounts with God • Ask the Spirit to search your heart (Psalm 139:23-24). • Confess sin immediately (1 John 1:9) so it never festers into arrogance. Stay grounded in the cross • Remember the price Christ paid for you (Galatians 6:14). • Measure success not by personal merit but by His grace alone (Ephesians 2:8-9). Serve others intentionally • Jesus “took on the form of a servant” (Philippians 2:5-8). • Regular, hidden acts of service silence self-promotion. Seek honest accountability • “Faithful are the wounds of a friend” (Proverbs 27:6). • Invite mature believers to speak truth when attitudes drift. Embrace Scripture saturation • God’s word mirrors our heart and humbles us (Hebrews 4:12). • Memorize passages that confront pride—e.g., Proverbs 16:18; 1 Peter 5:5-6. Living Humility Out Loud When God’s grace stays front-and-center, accomplishments become opportunities to honor Him, not ourselves. By rehearsing His kindness, confessing quickly, and choosing the lower place, we guard against the blindness that once ruined Jerusalem—and we showcase the Savior who “gives grace to the humble” (James 4:6). |
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