365 Days with God - Day 130: Our Pride

I'm giving myself a challenge. Read the Bible each day for a whole year, following the ESV Study Guide 1-year plan. Each day, I will post whatever God has revealed to me in His Word, and how it is changing me. A friend of mine once said that nothing has changed her life as much as reading the bible each day - and I'm excited for how this will change me. Join me on an adventure into the heart of God - and day by day, we can learn more about who He is and what that means to us!

- Andy Catts

Day 130, April 29, 2014

Readings: Psalm 129, Numbers 9:15-23, Numbers 10:1-10, Isaiah 46, Isaiah 47, Colossians 1:21-29, Colossians 2:1-15

How much time do we spend thinking about our weaknesses? Our susceptibility to failure? How much does our nation think about this? Or do we spend more time proclaiming our greatness, ever seeking ways to feel better about ourselves and our efforts? Do we really feel secure? Are we really worthy of our pride? In what do we place our hope and trust?

You felt secure in your wickedness,
you said, "No one sees me";
your wisdom and your knowledge led you astray,
and you said in your heart,
"I am, and there is no one besides me."
But evil shall come upon you,
which you will not know how to charm away;
disaster shall fall upon you,
for which you will not be able to atone;
and ruin shall come upon you suddenly,
of which you know nothing. (Isaiah 47:10-11)

We are a nation secure in our wickedness. Confident in our knowledge of how the world works, we make judgement calls and stand firm in our believe that none can challenge us. Confidence is good, but we are a proud nation, unwilling to listen to wisdom and wise council. Instead, we rely on our independence, our wealth and our social justice to save us.

If we're good enough people, karma will save us. If we're rich enough, money will buy what we need. If we're strong enough, with hardworking people and intelligence, we can survive any threat.

Isn't that the root of many beliefs in America? Or maybe a jumble of all of those? But the message is the same - we can save ourselves. But if we could do that, wouldn't we have done it already? Wouldn't we have solved all the problems, bought all the things, and worked ourselves into perfection?

Instead, we're lost more than ever. We keep seeking meaning where none is found. We want anything, anyone, to tell us that we can save ourselves. But the answer is just the opposite. We've got nothing. We can't do anything. We need God. And until we see that, we're lost.