GOD’S WORD FOR FEBRUARY 26

We are reading from a daily devotional  called “Running To Win” written by Erwin Lutzer  and the late, great D.L. Moody.   Erwin Lutzer is a light in our day as D.L. Moody was in his.

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PRIDE VERSUS GOD

“Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, for all His works are right and His ways are just.  Those who walk in pride He is able to humble.”

D.L. MOOD

When you find that a man has got to praising God it is a good sign.  Nebuchadnezzar’s earlier edict said much about other people’s duty toward the God of the Hebrews, but nothing about what the king himself should do.  Oh, let us get to personal love, personal praise!  That is what is wanted in the church in the present day.

We may surely hope that his was a “repentance to salvation not to be repented of.”  If so, we may well believe that today Nebuchadnezzar the king and Daniel the captive are walking the crystal pavement of heaven arm-in-arm together.

ERWIN LUTZER

I expect to see Nebuchadnezzar in heaven!  The king who opposed Daniel went insane, eating grass like an animal.  After God intervened, the king extolled the Most High.  I agree with Moody, the king’s speech appears to show a “repentance to salvation.”

Contrast the humility of Nebuchadnezzar with the pride of Belshazzar.  “King Belshazzar made a great feast…and commanded that the vessels of gold and of silver that Nebuchadnezzar his father had taken out of the temple in Jerusalem be brought.”  (Daniel 5:1-2).  They used the vessels to drink to their pagan gods.  Belshazzar blasphemed God, shaking his fist at the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

Nebuchadnezzar died humbly bowing to God;  Belshazzar died at a drunken orgy.  One died in humility in the presence of God;  the other died pridefully, thinking he was in charge of his own fate.  Humility made the difference.

“Whosoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.”  (Matthew 23:12).

PRAYER

Father, please teach me to humble myself so that I might serve You with humility.  May You shape me for your use.

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Luke 15:7

I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance.

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2Peter 3:9

The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.

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Proverbs 11:2

When pride comes, then comes shame;

But with the humble is wisdom.

Matthew 3:11

I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.

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Psalm 10:12

Arise, O Lord!

O God, lift up Your hand!

Do not forget the humble.

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Isaiah 57:15

For thus says the High and Lofty One

Who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy:

“I dwell in the high and holy place,

With him who has a contrite and humble spirit,

To revive the spirit of the humble,

And to revive the heart of the contrite ones.”

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Matthew 9:13

But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice.’ For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.

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Proverbs 29:23

A man’s pride will bring him low,

But the humble in spirit will retain honor.

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