Seven Words that Can Change Your Life
Joe Alain
Luke 18:9–14
A minister, a boy scout, and a computer expert were the only passengers on a small plane. The pilot came back to the cabin and said that the plane was going down but there were only three parachutes and four people. The pilot added, "I should have one of the parachutes because I have a wife and three small children." So he took one and jumped. The computer whiz said, "I should have one of the parachutes because I am the smartest man in the world and everyone needs me."
So he took one and jumped. The minister turned to the boy scout and said, "I have lived a good life and the Lord has been good to me. You take the remaining chute and I’ll go down with the plane." The boy scout said, "Relax, reverend, the smartest man in the world just picked up my knapsack and jumped out!"
Pride is the only disease known to man that makes everyone sick except the one who has it. In reality, pride has devastating consequences in our lives. Pride not only deceives us but it destroys us. "Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall" (Prov. 16:18). In 1 Peter 5:5–6 the Bible tells us as Christians to put on the garment of humility. God opposes the proud in heart and action but He gives grace to the humble. We are commanded to humble ourselves "under the mighty hand of God." When we submit to God’s authority He will exalt us at the proper time (1 Peter 5:6).
This principle of "humbling ourselves" before God is vividly illustrated in Luke 18:9–14. In this parable Jesus tells the story of two men: one man was prideful and he was shut out of the presence of God. The other man humbled himself and heaven’s gates of grace opened up and flooded his soul. Luke 18:9 gives us the audience for this parable in its original setting. Jesus was addressing "some who trusted in themselves." Jesus encountered two kinds of people in His ministry – those who were trusting in God and those who were trusting in th ...
Joe Alain
Luke 18:9–14
A minister, a boy scout, and a computer expert were the only passengers on a small plane. The pilot came back to the cabin and said that the plane was going down but there were only three parachutes and four people. The pilot added, "I should have one of the parachutes because I have a wife and three small children." So he took one and jumped. The computer whiz said, "I should have one of the parachutes because I am the smartest man in the world and everyone needs me."
So he took one and jumped. The minister turned to the boy scout and said, "I have lived a good life and the Lord has been good to me. You take the remaining chute and I’ll go down with the plane." The boy scout said, "Relax, reverend, the smartest man in the world just picked up my knapsack and jumped out!"
Pride is the only disease known to man that makes everyone sick except the one who has it. In reality, pride has devastating consequences in our lives. Pride not only deceives us but it destroys us. "Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall" (Prov. 16:18). In 1 Peter 5:5–6 the Bible tells us as Christians to put on the garment of humility. God opposes the proud in heart and action but He gives grace to the humble. We are commanded to humble ourselves "under the mighty hand of God." When we submit to God’s authority He will exalt us at the proper time (1 Peter 5:6).
This principle of "humbling ourselves" before God is vividly illustrated in Luke 18:9–14. In this parable Jesus tells the story of two men: one man was prideful and he was shut out of the presence of God. The other man humbled himself and heaven’s gates of grace opened up and flooded his soul. Luke 18:9 gives us the audience for this parable in its original setting. Jesus was addressing "some who trusted in themselves." Jesus encountered two kinds of people in His ministry – those who were trusting in God and those who were trusting in th ...
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