Talk no more so exceeding proudly; let not arrogancy come out of your mouth: for the LORD is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed. I Samuel 2:3
Tonight during the Pauline Epistles class at the O.G.T.C. I taught through the book of Ephesians. In the first couple of chapters we looked at the spiritual blessings of the saints. This is agreat portion of scripture full of truths to help us encourage other believers. We decided instead of encouraging people with cliches and making promises God did not that we should encourage believers with doctrine. We do not know God will heal you however we do know that we accepted in the beloved. I will focus on this idea of “proper, scriptural encouragement” in a future blog.
Another aspect of seeing our true identity in Christ is how it removes our arrogance and our low self esteem (pride with an identity crisis). Tonight as I read this verse my heart was touched and convicted. After looking at all Christ and done for, in, and through me to take me from an object of wrath to now seating in the heavenlies it astonishing to me pride could exist in my heart.
The Lord knows my limited knowledge on a extremely limited varieties of subjects. He also know my actions and can even weigh my motives. Often times I am motivated to have “arrogancy come of my mouth” because in my pride I want to be valued. I want to be thought of better than I am. I want more opportunities. I do not want to feel so restricted. God help me, and He is. He knows my thoughts and my actions. I should live for Him and Him alone. I do not want to “talk so exceedingly proudly” and want to give my words over to Him to glorify the Son!
