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07 -- Do you become proud?
GENESIS 3:4-5
4 Then the serpent said to the woman, “You will not die. 5 Rather, God knows that on the day you two eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”
Satan quickly notices the man who gives himself up to his doubts. The one who elevates himself in his mind above God, pretends to be able to measure and grasp God, and judge Him. And where a man causes his Lord to be cross with him, no matter how little -- complaining that God has not granted him much money, or impressive gifts or abundant beauty -- there Satan blows into the dying fire, letting it blaze and increase in revolt against the judgments of God.
Then Satan, without any timidity, says: “God has not kept his word, and his judgment is not true.” This means that Satan paints for him God as a selfish liar, as though God would keep his greatness to Himself. In this way the Devil blasphemes the love of God, the sacrifice of His Son, and the coming of the Holy Spirit upon us. This is because Satan envies the love of God, and the humility of His Son, and the spiritual attitude of self-denial in believers.
All these factors raise the desire in man to become independent from God, in the name of freedom. And Satan instigates him to opposition and rebellion, painting before his eyes a superman, as an aim, which he must achieve. Woe to all proud humans, because they seek wealth and prestige, as well as beauty and luxury, all without God.
Weep over your pride, and pay attention, because Satan lays in you the thinking of self-exaltation, thinking of yourself as a small god, the center of your environment, honored by all. But the reality is: you are small and futile, guilty and ugly, compared with the glory of the holy God.
Look how Christ became humble to save you. And ask from your Lord His Holy Spirit, to open your eyes to see the way you are truly connected to God. Because only in knowing Him, you will discern the standard of truth and love and glory. All other knowledge is self-deception. Remain in the love of Christ, because without Him, you are like a branch cut off from the vine, which dries up.
He who separates himself from God and raises himself above Him, will understand a little bit about evil, but will lose all of what is good, and will enter into communion with the Devil. Such a person becomes blind to God and begins to blaspheme against Him. Do you want to follow Christ or Satan? “He who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”
MEMORIZE: So the serpent said to the woman, “You will not die. Rather, God knows that on the day you two eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” (Genesis 3:4+5)
PRAYER: O Father, you love us. In Christ you have forgiven our sins and your Holy Spirit makes us alive. Keep us in humility and lead us to self-denial so our selfishness will die in Christ. And consolidate His love in us so that the evil enemy will not find power over us. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil, together with all the humble ones in Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, Ruanda, Burundi and Tanzania.