54 He cannot tolerate it!

He cannot tolerate it!

"Hezekiah’s heart was proud!" 2 Chronicles 32:25

It swelled with pride—and was lifted up with vanity! Yet he was a good man, and had just received a remarkable proof of God’s distinguishing love.

We are by nature so proud—that we are always in danger of being unduly elevated if God favors us; or of taking offence at God’s dealings if He pleases to try us.

There is nothing that God hates more than pride! He cannot tolerate it! "I hate pride and arrogance!" Proverbs 8:13. And yet it is the very thing to which we are most prone! A proud heart is sure to be unfruitful; only the humble bring forth the fruits of righteousness.

Pride generates . . .
fretfulness,
discontent,
envy,
ill will,
hardness of heart, and
a thousand other evils!

Let us therefore beware lest our hearts are lifted up in pride, for if they are, God will be sure to pull them down, and the means, as in Hezekiah’s case, may be very severe!

Let us therefore consider . . .
what we were before we received grace,
what we might have been but for grace, and
what we certainly should be forever, if God did not save us by grace—and so be humble.