BBD 11.09.07 Overcoming Pride
Posted by: wrather <wrather@...>
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11.09.07
Overcoming Pride
Now when Jesus had crossed over again by boat to the other side, a great
multitude gathered to Him; and He was by the sea. And behold, one of the
rulers of the synagogue came, Jairus by name. And when he saw Him, he fell
at His feet and begged Him earnestly, saying, "My little daughter lies at
the point of death. Come and lay Your hands on her, that she may be healed,
and she will live." So Jesus went with him, and a great multitude followed
Him and thronged Him. - Mark 5:21-24.
While He was still speaking, some came from the ruler of the synagogue's
house who said, "Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the Teacher any
further?" As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, He said to the
ruler of the synagogue, "Do not be afraid; only believe." And He permitted
no one to follow Him except Peter, James, and John the brother of James.
Then He came to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, and saw a tumult
and those who wept and wailed loudly. When He came in, He said to them, "Why
make this commotion and weep? The child is not dead, but sleeping." And they
ridiculed Him. But when He had put them all outside, He took the father and
the mother of the child, and those who were with Him, and entered where the
child was lying. Then He took the child by the hand, and said to her,
"Talitha, cumi," which is translated, "Little girl, I say to you, arise."
Immediately the girl arose and walked, for she was twelve years of age. And
they were overcome with great amazement. - Mark 5:35-42.
In Mark chapter 5, the Bible tells us the story of Jairus and his daughter.
Jairus was a ruler of the synagogue, an important man, a respected man, a
wealthy and powerful man. Yet the Bible tells us (Mark 5:22) that Jairus
fell at the feet of Jesus and pleaded with Jesus to come and heal his young
daughter who was deathly ill. The daughter died before Jesus reached her but
he spoke words of life "Talitha cumi" (little lamb, wake up) and the girl
came back to life.
Jairus had to lose something before the hand of God moved in healing power.
Jairus got rid of his dignity, his pride. Our dignity, our pride, keeps us
many times from receiving the blessing of God.
Consider Naaman in 2 Kings chapter 5. Naaman was the captain of the host of
the king of Syria. In order for Naaman to be healed of leprosy, Elisha the
prophet said he needed to dip himself seven times in the River Jordan.
Naaman was angry at first saying there were better rivers in Syria. But his
servant said to him, "My father, if the prophet had told you to do something
great, would you not have done it? How much more then, when he says to you,
'Wash, and be clean'?" Naaman dipped himself seven times in the river Jordan
and was healed of his leprosy.
Pride is keeping many from being in a right relationship with God. Why is it
that people are not flooding down the aisles when the invitation is given?
Perhaps it is a matter of hardness of heart and perhaps it is a matter of
pride, of being too good to humble themselves admitting that they need help
in any area of their lives. Are you too good, too prideful to admit that you
need God's help with life? What if the attitude of Jarius had been like
that? Naaman almost missed out on being healed because of his pride. What
about you? What are you missing out on because of your pride?
Is there something that God wants you to do but your pride; your dignity has
gotten in the way?
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