Scripture:

Obadiah 7
7 "All the men allied with you
Will send you forth to the border,
And the men at peace with you
Will deceive you and overpower you.
They who eat your bread
Will set an ambush for you.
(There is no understanding in him.)
NASU


Thoughts:

Pride has such a deceptive influence over us.  It makes us feel invincible, even from betrayal.  We think, who would ever turn on me?  We overestimate the opinion that others have of us and our relationship to them..

But this is truly deception as Edom found out.  Edom was known for having such wise people, but even in all their wisdom, they were deceived.  They could not see that their neighboring allies were actually plotting to conquer them.

Clearly pride is such a blinding and foolish behavior, so why do we succumb to it?  Ultimately, it is just part of our sinful nature.  It feels good to puff ourselves up in our minds and to others.  But this is not the way of Christ or even the way of the wise.


Prayer:

Lord, help me not to think too highly of myself.  Keep me grounded in what is real:  anything good in my life is because of You, not me. 

Keep me from the foolishness and dangerous vulnerability of pride.

Amen