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October 08, 2024
The Self-Bloated Heart
April 18, 2018
And all the people know it, that is, Ephraim and the inhabitants of Samaria, asserting in pride and in arrogance of heart; the bricks have fallen down, but we will rebuild with smooth stones; the sycamores have been cut down, but we will replace them with cedars. – ISAIAH 9:9-10
The heart that rebels against God must place faith in itself. Pride enlarges the spiritual heart. This is as life-threatening as a swollen physical heart. The reason: The self-bloated heart leads to the idolatry of self, always a fatal disease. So, Israel turned away from God and fell into the sins of arrogance and pride. People reasoned that if houses collapsed and trees were slashed down, they were strong enough to put something better in their place.
The self-bloated heart rationalizes that if the world crumbles under the weight of human sin, human beings can rebuild it. Humanist Manifesto II, published in 1973, declared that man could not look to the divine for help, but could save himself. The self-bloated heart wheezes with the idolatry of self. And because God’s job description is ultimately too big for a human being, the heart of a man or woman trying to play God finally gives out in exhaustion.
What a huge relief to the heart that gets it right: God is God and we are not, and therein is our ultimate peace.
Today’s Focus
If crisis is churning in your heart, give the concern to God, and rest in His ability to meet your need.
