Along With Pride, Destruction!



One unit deputy called me and asked for a nurse to evaluate 2 inmates who just had a fight. I didn’t go into details why these 2 cellies [cell mates] fought. As I waited in a small clinic inside that unit, the man approached me, escorted by the deputy. His blood was dripping like a faucet. I found a laceration from his mid-forehead. I controlled his bleeding before I noticed the other injuries. He had scattered scratches on his torso. His left eye, circled with a dark halo. He sat quietly in front of me, the whole time. He was in a somber mood. I planned to send him to the hospital for further evaluation and treatment.

As the deputy kept him in a holding cell, he brought out the other inmate involved. Smiling sheepishly, I could feel his arrogance as he sat in front of me.

“Did you get hit?”

“Nope! I think I only had these fingers broken. That’s about it,” he answered, still smiling wide and holding his head high. [He stated that to make us know that he felt good that he hit the other guy bad!].

“No, they’re not broken!” I answered. [There were only mild swelling, as a result of him, hitting the other inmates, perhaps non-stop and hard]. He only had 1 minor scratch on his back but he didn’t have any other injuries. Not like the battered man.

“You can take him now, deputy,” I uttered. “Just put a sick call request if anything comes up,” I told that inmate.

“I’m fine,” he answered with his head so high as he turned it briefly toward the other man being kept in a nearby holding cell.

What did that inmate's pride gain for himself? He would definitely get more days or even months added to his sentence. He might gain power when this news about this fight would reach by hearsay to other inmates. But would everyone be scared of him just because he was unscathed? He would be inviting other inmates, hungry for power, to strike him in the end.

Having arrogance in our hearts can be deceiving. He thinks that he is indestructible. The truth is we are all mortals. We all get hurt. Our strength diminishes. Power does not offer the best security.

Like when we defy God’s commandments. We are being proud. That will bring us nowhere. We may feel good about doing whatever we want to do. But take heed of deceiving ourselves as to our souls! Don’t be fools who grants favor to an earthly prince. While you throw yourself out of God’s favor.

Let us not fear pride in others. But let us fear pride in OURSELVES.

Proverbs 16:18 - “Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.”

Jeremiah 49:16 - “As for the terror of you, The arrogance of your heart has deceived you, O you who live in the clefts of the rock, who occupy the height of the hill. Though you make your nest as high as an eagle's, I will bring you down from there," declares the LORD.

14 comments:

  1. I love that last scripture! I'm glad to know we serve a God who sees everything, and His ways are Justice, Peace and Love. Even bringing us down from our lofty nests is an act of Mercy and Love. He is more than worthy of our praise!

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  2. AMEN. Pride most definitely brings destruction and ruins our lives. May each of us re-evaluate our lives, now.
    Thank you, sister for this post. It is easy to get caught up in the world. Thank you for using GOD's word and the stories from your world to re-direct our paths and keep us focused on the Lord!
    Blessings, hugs, and prayers,
    andrea

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  3. Thank you for the great illustration. Pride just within lurking.
    Thanks be to God that its already nailed to the cross.
    His presence covers us now.
    Amen.

    God Bless sis.

    Regina

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  4. Rosel,

    Great post! This is so true that pride can get the best of all of us if we let it go unchecked. Thankfully as Christians, God has a way of bringing us right back in line in no time.

    Love and Hugs ~ Kat

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  5. Wow, That last verse was something else. Thanks for that post, Dear. Blessings ~

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  6. Sweet Friend,

    "Jeremiah 49:16 - “As for the terror of you, The arrogance of your heart has deceived you, O you who live in the clefts of the rock, Who occupy the height of the hill. Though you make your nest as high as an eagle's, I will bring you down from there," declares the LORD."

    I just had to type this in again because it is oh so powerful to think about and resonate within all of us. We all have been prideful at some point in our lives, but hopefully we immediately recognize it and come forth in humble repentance to Him as He lovingly forgives us.

    Father release me from all fleshly ways, from all fleshly will and may I conform and be transformed into Your likeness, Your Will in mind, body, soul and spirit in Jesus precious name I pray. Amen.

    Thank you for filling me again my sister. You are so dear to me.

    Love you,
    Alleluiabelle

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  7. the verse I open my book with is"woe to those who call evil good and good evil, woe put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter. Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes and clever in their own sight." Iss.5:20,21

    Arrogance, pride used to hurt the vulnerable....always ends in their own fall. Sarah

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  8. It always amazes me how God uses you in these incredible situations to not only show His love to these men, but share these profound stories with us. The are always so eye opening. You are a blessing. Period!
    Wylie

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  9. I definitely fear pride in myself, knowing that it will keep me from receiving God's mercy and His grace and I know that I can not get by without it.

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  10. Rcubes, this post very powerful! Pride is a good topic! Blessings and hugs.

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  11. Rosel,
    Hope you are well my friend!!! Wishing you happiness and blessing from our great creator.
    You are right on target . . . pride can damage our souls and bring down shame on us. Thank you for sharing this today my friend.
    Your sister in Christ,
    Bren

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  12. I've experienced the "fall" talked about in Proverbs 16:18. I've been arrogant at times in the past and had to live with the consequences. When I've looked back on those situations, I've found that pride for me was always as a result of insecurity that I tried to counteract by building myself up. How dumb is that?! Instead of having the confidence in God available to me, the absence of fear because our God is oh so trustworthy, I chose to try to obtain it through my own devices. I'm so grateful for the forgiveness of God. I'm so grateful for His patience and that He chooses to work in my life so I don't have to keep making the same mistakes.

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  13. I believe at the root of all sin is a wrong view of God and Pride
    great post

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  14. "Let us not fear pride in others. But let us fear pride in OURSELVES." How right you are Rosel. Pride is our greatest downfall.

    Much love to you!

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"Faith is taking the first step even if you don't see the whole staircase..."
~ Martin Luther King, Jr.

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