Only when we are crushed and remolded in the hands of the Master Potter can we enter the kingdom of God!
God doesn’t force us to change our minds about our pride. But He does give us ample opportunity to reevaluate our position. Jonah found himself in the belly of a great fish when God whispered in his ear, “Jonah, if you’ll do what I called you to do, I’ll program this fish to deposit you on the beach. Otherwise, this fish just had lunch. What’ll it be?”
Jonah screamed, “I’ll obey! I’ll obey! Forgive me for being so stubborn and full of pride.”
God said, “Good thinking, Jonah!”
Jonah waded to shore, slimy, smelly seaweed around his neck, bloodshot eyes, trembling with fear, his pride finally crushed, crying out to the Ninevites as God had commanded. Him, “Repent!”
Saul of Tarsus was knocked to the ground and struck blind on the road to Damascus. God whispered in his ear, “Saul, you can quit persecuting Me and these new Christians, or you can stay blind. What’s your pleasure?”
Saul replied, “What do You want me to do? Just name it?”
And God said, “Atta boy, Saul!”
God plays hardball. When He spots pride in your life He goes after it the way a surgeon goes after cancer. He’ll put you flat on your back in a full body cast for a moment of reflection. He’ll take the possessions that are the basis of your mentality and scatter them to the four winds. He’ll make your bed like coals of fire in the night. You’ll never know rest until you make your peace with God.
Jesus picked up a little child and addressed His hardened adult audience: “Unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven…” Matthew 18.
Millions of America’s tormented legions flood through the doors of our churches every Sunday proud, religious, unteachable, cold, jaded, resentful, hurting and hateful—about as unlike a humble little child as can be. We are searching for happiness. But we can find it only when we allow the loving hand of God to break us and remake us into vessels that please Him. This is the first step toward true happiness. Why not take it right now?
Source: Being Happy in an Unhappy World
Daily Living
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