NIV 365-Day Devotional Plan (2017)Sample

UZZIAH’S PRIDE

Uzziah was a good king who had started out his reign well (v. 5), and as a result he experienced God’s blessing. But his successes caused him to swell up with pride, and he began to take prerogatives that did not belong to him. He usurped the authority of the priests and attempted to burn incense in the temple. God judged Uzziah’s pride and presumptuousness by striking him with leprosy. His reign ended in great failure, but it revealed that God’s people needed a humble king.

Jesus is the antithesis of Uzziah. Jesus did not get struck with leprosy; he went around healing lepers (Lk 17:11 – 19). Jesus did not pridefully take privileges that did not belong to him; rather he humbly and voluntarily gave up privileges and rights that did belong to him (Php 2:5 – 11). Jesus is equal with God, and yet he laid aside the free exercise of his rights by humbling himself in becoming a man and dying on the cross. Therefore, God has exalted him to the throne!

Jesus, protect me from the dangerous sin of pride. Make my heart humble like yours so that you may work through me to accomplish God’s purposes. Amen.

Taken fromNIV The Jesus Bible