05
Don’t Believe Your Press
John TiltonEzekiel 28:1-9
The word of the Lord came to me: “Son of man, say to the ruler of Tyre, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says:“‘In the pride of your heart you say, “I am a god;
I sit on the throne of a god in the heart of the seas.” But you are a mere mortal and not a god,though you think you are as wise as a god. Are you wiser than Daniel? Is no secret hidden from you? By your wisdom and understanding
you have gained wealth for yourself and amassed gold and silver in your treasuries. By your great skill in trading you have increased your wealth,
and because of your wealth your heart has grown proud. “Therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says: “‘Because you think you are wise, as wise as a god, I am going to bring foreigners against you, the most ruthless of nations; they will draw their swords against your beauty and wisdom and pierce your shining splendor. They will bring you down to the pit, and you will die a violent death
in the heart of the seas. Will you then say, “I am a god,”in the presence of those who kill you? You will be but a mortal, not a god, in the hands of those who slay you.
In speaking against Tyre, the Lord’s issue was Tyre’s pride in believing that they were great as a God because of their wisdom, understanding, wealth and skills. Basically, in view of being blessed by the Lord, rather then being humble and grateful, they grew proud, thinking that their accomplishments and possessions were of their own doing. Thus, the Lord would instead show them their mortality by causing them to be oppressed by others; bringing them down in defeat, including some dying violent deaths. They would face a day of reckoning.
It is so easy when things are going well and that when I seem to be accomplishing things and work in my life; that I sometimes think and act as though my blessings and abilities are self-birthed, self-determined and self-evolving instead of my source and foundation being the Lord. I guess I begin to “believe my press,” thinking that I am very good at what I do and who I am. It often can be subtle, thereby disallowing me to realize who I am supposed to be in and through Christ. I tend to wallow in my accomplishments, my abilities, position and stature. It is not often with reckless abandonment, but often subtle ways ad means in seeding into my character. It can often cause my heart and mind to change and therefore cause my reasoning and decision-making to go off kilter. Basically, I can begin to believe that I am somebody special, subsequently becoming, prideful, territorial and entitled; often without realization.
Wakeup John, and realize that all I am and what I accomplish is blessings, provision and God’s plan if I follow in His ways with obedience. If not, my character and choices can often go side-ways and south, away from the Lord and His will.
Dear Lord, please guide me to be cognizant and aware of who I am in Christ and the importance of my following your will and ways, hungry and receiving your word, communicating with you in prayer and standing on your faithfulness. I know that I then have the propensity to live in humility and thanksgiving.
