TODAY’S SCRIPTURE
Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and exalt and glorify the King of heaven, because everything he does is right and all his ways are just. And those who walk in pride he is able to humble. Daniel 4:37
Read: Daniel 4:28-37
Listen: Daniel 4
TODAY’S MESSAGE
Pride is a problem but doesn’t need to be a permanent one. God miraculously works to confront Nebuchadnezzar about his pride. Nebuchadnezzar turns to God, and God restores him. God is in the restoration business, and it’s why Jesus came to earth. He came to fix the brokenness of the world, including pride. Jesus’s message was that people couldn’t fix their relationship with God. Only God could overcome sin by entering the world, living a perfect life, dying on the cross, and defeating death through the resurrection. The proper response is to repent from sin and accept the restoration offered by God. God wants to restore our relationship with him and with those around us. It’s clear from Scripture that God moves toward those who humble themselves.
All restoration requires setting aside our pride and embracing humility. This is true about our relationship with God and our relationship with others. We trust God when he tells us that humility is the right thing to do. We see humility as God’s way in the Bible and know it can be true in our lives too. We can’t control whether other relationships will be restored, but we can trust our relationship with God can be restored. Whether a broken relationship is 1% our fault or 99% our fault, we can start with humility and acknowledge our mistakes. We live in a blame culture, but restoration starts by humbly owning our part. A restored relationship with God rests on God’s grace and our response to it. Humility recognizes the need for God’s grace and helps us give grace to others.
IN YOUR CHAIR TIME TODAY
Thank God for the restoration he offers through Jesus. Thank him for helping you understand the danger of pride and the need for humility. Ask God to help you approach the broken relationships in your life with humility. Tell God you trust him with those relationships, even if restoration doesn’t happen on your desired timeline. Reflect on the goodness of God by worshipping with the Ada Bible Worship team as they sing “Canvas and the Clay.” The lyrics remind us that “nothing has been wasted, no failure or mistake. You’re an artist and a potter; I’m the canvas and the clay. You make all things work together, for my future and for my good.”
2022 BIBLE MEMORY PRACTICE
Develop spiritual roots and tap in the power of God’s word by memorizing monthly a Bible verse! View previous verses at beyondtheweekend.org/biblememorypractice.
MATTHEW 11:28-30
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
