THE PIT OF PRIDE

THE PIT OF PRIDE

Exhortation by: Carolyn Sissom

May 8, 2008

Jeremiah 18:20:  “For they have dug a pit to capture me and have hidden snares for my feet.”

As our church has been studying Ezekiel, the Lord has reminded me of how satan will dig a pit for us and set traps for us to fall in the pit.  His access to us for this trickery and manipulation is through our pride.  When we are aware that someone is shoveling a pit for us, we will step over it , when we don't vindicate ourselves, have the last word, or set the matter straight.  Our flesh wants to get in there and duke it out with the one doing the shoveling.  After all we have been wronged and even worse these wicked people have tried to use us to do their evil work.  Jezabel will make the bullets and try to find an Ahab to fire them.   Those of us who have walked with the Lord through many seasons of life are able to recognize this pit and warn others.  Will they listen?

At least half a dozen times lately, the Lord has opened my eyes to a pit being shoveled for me.   I am a Minister of the Gospel and Pride would say I could speak into the situation and bring peace and understanding.  Yes, this is true, if the people’s heart is to seek after the Lord.  Most of those people digging the pits are not seeking the Lord but their own wicked schemes.  I have been pushed in one or more of those pits in my lifetime.  I didn’t take the bait.  But, oh the temptation was there. 

Psalm 7:15-16:   “ He who digs a pit and scoops it out falls into the pit he has made.  The trouble he causes recoils on himself.  His violence comes down on his own head.”

The Message translation reads as follows:  Pslm 7: 15-16:  “See that man shoveling day after day digging then concealing, his man-trap down that lonely stretch of road?  Go back and look again—you’ll see him in it headfirst legs waving in the breeze.  That’s what happens: mischief backfires, violence boomerangs.”

When we fall into pits, it is always because of our pride.  Let us all have the wisdom and humility to walk away from the bait set by the man or woman  shoveling the pit.

Smile

Carolyn Sissom, Pastor

Eastgate Ministries, Inc.