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Pride Goeth Before a Fall, September 7
Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.
1
Corinthians 10:12
.
Just before Peter’s fall, Christ said to him, “Simon, behold, Satan hath
desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat” (
Luke 22:31
).
How true was the Saviour’s friendship for Peter! how compassionate His
warning! But the warning was resented. In self-sufficiency Peter declared
confidently that he would never do what Christ had warned him against.
“Lord,” he said, “I am ready to go with thee, both into prison, and to death”
(
Verse 33
). His self-confidence proved his ruin. He tempted Satan to tempt
him, and he fell under the arts of the wily foe. When Christ needed him most,
he stood on the side of the enemy, and openly denied his Lord....
Many today stand where Peter stood, when in self-confidence he declared
that he would not deny his Lord. And because of their self-sufficiency, they
fall an easy prey to Satan’s devices. Those who realize their weakness trust
in a power higher than self. And, while they look to God, Satan has no power
against them. But those who trust in self are easily defeated. Let us remember
that, if we do not heed the cautions that God gives us, a fall is before us.
Christ will not save from wounds the one who places himself unbidden on
the enemy’s ground. He lets the self-sufficient one, who acts as if he knew
more than his Lord, go on in his supposed strength. Then comes suffering
and a crippled life, or perhaps defeat and death.
In the warfare, the enemy takes advantage of the weakest points in the
defence of those he is attacking. Here he makes his fiercest assaults. The
Christian should have no weak points in his defence. He should be barricaded
by the support that the Scriptures give to the one who is doing God’s will.
The tempted soul will bear away the victory, if he follows the example of Him
who met the tempter with the word, “It is written.” He can stand securely in
the protection of a “Thus saith the Lord.” ...
The Lord permits His children to fall; and then, if they repent of their
wrongdoing, He helps them to stand on vantage ground. As fire purifies
gold, so Christ purifies His people by temptation and trial.—
Manuscript 115,
September 7, 1902
, “The Danger of Self-sufficiency.”
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