PRIDEFUL NO MORE

PASTOR RYAN LADEN – DEVOTIONALS

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As we continue in our study of the message of the Prophet Micah we come to another example of how the faithless amongst God’s people willfully carried out injustice toward those who could not defend themselves. This kind of heartless cruelty is not a thing of the past. If anything, we are seeing more and more of this very act of shame all around us today. This is a message we all need. 

1 Woe to those who plan iniquity, to those who plot evil on their beds! At morning’s light they carry it out because it is in their power to do it. 2 They covet fields and seize them, and houses, and take them. They defraud people of their homes, they rob them of their inheritance. 

3 Therefore, the LORD says: “I am planning disaster against this people, from which you cannot save yourselves. You will no longer walk proudly, for it will be a time of calamity. 4 In that day people will ridicule you; they will taunt you with this mournful song: ‘We are utterly ruined; my people’s possession is divided up. He takes it from me! He assigns our fields to traitors.’ ” 5 Therefore you will have no one in the assembly of the LORD to divide the land by lot.

(Micah 2:1-5 NIV11)

Power

In verses 1-2,  we heard an example of the kind of unjust action that the Lord God hates. When those in places of power and authority abuse these positions for their own benefit and enrichment, the Lord is moved to anger. 

In this example, those with the power to act, coveted (sinfully desired) the possessions of those too weak and powerless to defend themselves. This evil desire led those the Lord entrusted with care of the land and management of the people to take from the weak in order to make themselves stronger. 

No Longer

In verse three we heard, “Therefore, the LORD says: “I am planning disaster against this people, from which you cannot save yourselves. You will no longer walk proudly, for it will be a time of calamity.”

The Lord was patient with his people. Prophet after prophet was sent to call the people of God away from their pride and idolatry, but they were rejected and ignored. 

When people see that they can get rich or make their own lives more comfortable by ignoring the commands of God and simply taking what they want from others, this kind of injustice does not go unnoticed by the Lord. 

And so in this message, the Lord is warning his people that their pride and their selfishness has led to their own downfall. It is not the Lord who brings disaster upon their own heads but their own actions have led to this time of discipline. 

Application

On our own, we are capable of great self-deception. 

We can convince ourselves that we deserve to have something that is not ours. We can deceive ourselves and others into all sorts of self-centered actions that harm others and contravene what we know to be right and good according to God’s word. 

But when we are convicted of our pride and arrogance we have an opportunity to turn away from these destructive actions and attitudes and allow the Lord to help us avoid the need for his loving discipline. 

Prayer

Lord Jesus Christ, help me see any area of pride or arrogance in me. I desire to be someone you can use for your own plans and purposes. I am open to your cleansing conviction and movement in my heart. 

In Christ, 

Ryan Laden

PASTOR RYAN LADEN

Works at MTN. CHURCH

Former Senior pastor at Warnbro Community Church

Studies at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary

Studied at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary

Studied at Baylor University

Studied at Texas Tech University

Went to Castle Hills First Baptist

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