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Daniel Osborne, the
director of Camp Jacob visited with us. He gave a report on the summer activities of
the camp and presented a Bible lesson.
The camp had a
record attendance of 500 this past summer.
Although this is a record, there is still room to meet their 1,600
capacity. He was quick to affirm that it is not about numbers but about each
child’s individual relationship with the Lord. He gave a couple examples of
changed lives that proved the affect the camp has on the children. He then presented his lesson.
Philippians 2:1 If there be therefore any
consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit,
if any bowels and mercies, 2 Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded,
having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. 3 Let
nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind
let each esteem other better than themselves. 4 Look not every man on
his own things, but every man also on the things of others.
Most times we
consider hate as the opposite of love. In reality the opposite is pride. Let’s
look at it from a different perspective. Love is an outward showing of
affection, a deep concern for each other. Pride doesn’t even acknowledge other
people. It’s worse than hate. Love is up toward God and out to others. Pride is
a deep concern and admiration of oneself, thereby an inward emotion. Pride
pushes out love. Love pushes out pride. The Bible tells us that love is of God.
Pride is of the devil. There are many scriptures to support this. I John 4:7 says “love is of God…and
everyone that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.” Love is to be perfected
in us.
Pride is the original sin. Beginning
with Isaiah 14:12, we are told about Satan’s pride. He tried to exalt himself
above God. “I will ascend into heaven. I will exalt my throne above the stars
of God….I will be like the most high God.” Even in Genesis chapter 3, we see
the part pride played in the sin of Adam and Eve. They were told that eating of
the fruit would make them wise and "they would be as gods." Pride led to their
disobedience. Love brings unity. Pride tears apart.
Colossians 3:14 says love
is “the bond of perfectness.” It bonds not divides. Love is admirable and
desirable. Pride is sinful and shameful. It is sin and the Bible has no gray
areas in this regard. Remember the story of King Nebuchadnezzar. He built up his
empire and God took him down. He ate grass in the field like an animal. He
realized that God exalts, not us. His
son Belshazzar brought the vessels of God and drank from them at a feast. He
saw the hand writing on the wall that told him God was bringing him down.
Love
is commanded. Pride is condemned. There are many verses in the Bible that
confirm this. Jesus said in John 15:12 says “This is my commandment that ye
love one another, as I have loved you.” Verse 17 says “These things I command
you, that ye love one another." This command is made in Romans, Ephesians, I
Timothy, Hebrews…and on and on. The greatest is “love thy neighbor as thy self.”
If we do this, the silly things we worry about won’t even come up
On the other
hand pride is condemned. Psalm 119:21 says “Thou hast rebuked the proud that
are cursed, which do err from my commandments.” Proverbs 8:13 says “The fear of
the Lord is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the forward
mouth, do I hate.” So we see love is commanded, pride is condemned.
This
knowledge should change our behavior. The text says to remove pride and add
love. Remove pride and put on love. What’s the direction of our affection? Is it inward in pride or outward to others
and God in love?
Adwolfe Freewill Baptist Church 