Today’s 333 Devotional: “The Right Pride”

Pride is never viewed as something positive. Rather, pride is a sin. It was pride that brought down Satan, and it’s pride that will be the downfall of all who follow that path.

It says in Proverbs 16:18, “Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.”

But there is a good sort of pride, and that’s when we take pride in God and in His ways.

Speaking of Jehoshaphat the Bible says, “He took great pride in the ways of the Lord and again removed the high places and the Asherim from Judah.” (2 Chronicles 17:6)

The word “pride” in the Hebrew language means to be high and exalted, and while it is mostly used in the bad sense, that is, to be haughty and arrogant, it’s also something that’s good when one is high on God, that is, when God is exalted through their words and actions.

This was the case with Jehoshaphat. He was high on God’s ways over the ways of the kings that went before Him. He took down the false forms of worship, the high places, and the Asherim, the gods of the Phoenicians and Canaanites.

Further he sent teachers of the law throughout the region to teach the people the law of God (2 Chronicles 17:7-9).

The Bible then says, “And the fear of the Lord fell on all the kingdoms of the lands that were around Judah, so that they did not make war against Jehoshaphat.” (2 Chronicles 17:10)

Through the preaching of God’s word, and obedience to it, Jehoshaphat did more to strengthen the kingdom than all his standing army could accomplish.

When our hearts are fully devoted to God, when we take great pride in the Lord by obeying His word and following His ways over the ways of the world, then the fear of the Lord will invade the hearts of those who witness this transformation.

Therefore, let’s take pride in God and follow His ways.