Today's encouragement comes from 2 Chronicles 26:5b, where we read these words:
" . . . And as long as he [King Uzziah of Judah] sought the LORD, God made him prosper."Why is it that we fallen sinners insist on hurting ourselves, and our best pros-pects for true happiness and peace? In the case of King Uzziah (above), it was his pride. So long as he was humble, and sought the Lord, things went very well for him. Once he got a bit "uppity" in spirit, and thought he could do anything he wanted to, (like offer incense in the temple)—things went very badly for him. For this particular transgression, God gave Uzziah leprosy, (see vv. 16 ff.).
Pride, which is inherent in our Fall in Adam, is at the root of *our* foolishness, as well. What are we churchmen to do—especially when our hearts are "lifted up" in pride? We are to humble ourselves, and cast ourselves entirely on the mercies of God as they are found in Jesus alone. This is accomplished via God’s sovereign regeneration, leading to our saving faith in Christ.
[Puritan quote of the day: "Is it presumption for a man to keep the Sabbath Day? No. Why? Because it is commanded.” —William Bridge, in, "A Lifting Up For the Downcast"]
