A friend told me about a church officer on the mission field who was causing great problems in the church. Whenever the missionary was in the village, the officer lived a godly life; but whenever the missionary left, the man would behave as though he were controlled by Satan. Finally the missionary and several church leaders confronted the man in the name of Jesus Christ, and they discovered the truth: Satan was using pride to control the officer’s life.

“When I was ordained an elder,” the man explained, “I heard a voice say to me, ‘Now you are somebody important.’ I yielded to that voice, and Satan took over in my life.” He confessed his sin, the church prayed, and God delivered him.

“Now you are somebody important!” “Worship and serve the creature rather than the Creator!” These are Satan’s lies, and I fear they rule the world today. God originally made man in His own image. Today, man is trying to make God in his own image.

Remember: “Though the Lord be high, yet hath He respect unto the lowly: but the proud He knoweth afar off” (Psalm 138:6).

More: Proverbs 16:5, 18-19; 21:4; Galatians 6:3; James 4:6.

Action assignment: Ask God to shine his searchlight on you and show you if you need to deal with pride in your life.