How can we guard against pride, as seen in Ezekiel 28:14? A Warning Wrapped in Privilege “You were anointed as a guardian cherub, for I had ordained you; you were on the holy mount of God; you walked among the fiery stones.” (Ezekiel 28:14) Tyre’s ruler—mirroring the fall of the anointed cherub—enjoyed breathtaking honor, yet pride corrupted the blessing and led to judgment. Pride’s Pattern in Scripture - Proverbs 16:18: “Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.” - Isaiah 14:13–14 shows the same “I will” spirit in the rebel angel. - 1 Timothy 3:6 warns that recent converts can fall “into the same judgment as the devil” if pride takes root. Key Lessons From Ezekiel 28:14 • God grants position; we do not earn it. • Nearness to His presence must breed worship, not self-exaltation. • Sin begins in the heart long before it is visible. Practical Ways to Guard Against Pride 1. Remember the Source - 1 Corinthians 4:7: “What do you have that you did not receive?” - Regularly acknowledge every gift, opportunity, and success as God’s gracious provision. 2. Keep Worship God-Centered - Revelation 4:10–11 shows crowned elders casting crowns before the throne. - Consciously redirect credit from self to the Lord whenever praise comes. 3. Anchor Daily in Scripture - Psalm 119:11: “I have hidden Your word in my heart that I might not sin against You.” - Meditate on humility passages; let God’s voice drown out self-promotion. 4. Embrace Servant-Mindedness - Philippians 2:5–7: “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a servant.” - Look for unnoticed tasks and unseen acts of kindness. 5. Practice Gratitude - Psalm 103:2: “Bless the Lord, O my soul, and do not forget all His kind deeds.” - Keep a running list of God’s mercies; gratitude crowds out entitlement. 6. Seek Accountability - Proverbs 27:17: “As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.” - Welcome honest feedback from believers who love you enough to confront ego. 7. Submit and Resist - James 4:6-7: “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble. Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” - Daily surrender to God’s authority disarms the enemy’s whispers of self-glory. 8. Wait for God’s Promotion - 1 Peter 5:6: “Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that He may exalt you in due time.” - Trust His timing; self-advancement short-circuits divine elevation. Daily Humility Checklist - Start the morning thanking God for three specific blessings. - Read a humility-themed passage aloud. - Serve one person without announcing it. - End the day recounting any praise you received, then verbally give it back to God. Closing Thought The guardian cherub lost everything when pride eclipsed worship. By continually exalting the Lord, submitting to His Word, and serving others, the same holy presence that once felled the proud will lift the humble and keep hearts safe. |
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