Pride & Peace
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Pride is where the lions hang out.
In our text this week, the Apostle Peter says there is one who prowls about like a roaring lion seeking someone to devour. Peter is speaking of the enemy of God’s people, the devil, also known as Satan. Satan is the slanderer of God’s people and is a complete liar always feeding into our self-exaltation and false persona. All of the devil’s claims are empty promises and will end in nothing but despair and destruction. Satan uses our own pride against us because the enemy knows it is to our disadvantage. Pride leads us away from God and away from others. Pride steals, kills and destroys and the devil knows it. This doesn’t give me one bit of peace.
There is another Lion that confronts us in our pride head on because He also knows it will only steal, kill and destroy us. This is the Lion of Judah, Jesus Christ, who fights for our lives and to defend our honor. He is the living breathing word of God - full of truth and grace. All of God’s promises for our eternal welfare are yes and amen in Him. Jesus builds and establishes our relationship with His Father and His church so that it will work to our advantage and so we can know the truth of God from the lies of the enemy. The Lion of Judah is greater and He is for us.
This is the only thing that gives me lasting peace in the spiritual battle for our souls.
Each of us has a part to play in this spiritual battle. If we walk in pride, we truly are our own worst enemy. This text teaches us how to actively fight against pride (self-exaltation):
by believing (trusting) in the truth about God’s mighty hand and what He can do for us admitting we are powerless to save ourselves in this spiritual war
by calling out to him for help because we trust that He cares for us and has the ability to win over any situation
by staying alert and watchful for the schemes of the enemy to appeal to our pride
by resisting the allure of pride in remembering we share with others in these war time sufferings thereby doing our part to support them too in this spiritual struggle
and by being assured in our hearts and minds that full life and lasting peace are ultimately found in the only One who can secure such things – Jesus Christ, the Lion of Judah and Prince of Peace.
All authority in Heaven and on earth has been given to Jesus and there is only one King over all.
As we suffer in this world, may we remember that pride is where lions hang out.
May we clothe ourselves with Christian love for others since we all share in the struggle.
And may we live with confidence in Jesus to meet us in our pride with His complete prowess, amazing kindness, and perfect peace because He cares for us.
Grateful & Hopeful in Christ,
Jon