“‘Though you soar like the eagle and make your nest among the stars, from there I will bring you down,’ declares the Lord.” – Obadiah 4

On the evening of August 31, 1986, the Soviet cruise liner Admiral Nakhimov set sail from Novorossiysk on the Black Sea. The 575-foot passenger liner was the flagship of the Black Sea cruise fleet in the 1950’s and was carrying 884 passengers and 346 crewmembers on its voyage to Odessa. Shortly after 11 p.m., the 50,000-ton freighter Pyotr Vasyev spotted on a collision course with the cruiser liner. Marine safety workers in warned the freighter it was on a collision course with the Admiral Nakhimov, but the freighter’s captain failed to take evasive measures. At 11:20 p.m., when many passengers had already gone to bed, the freighter struck the cruise liner, sinking it within 8 minutes. Four hundred forty-eight people died in the accident. The investigation revealed the cause of the accident wasn’t a technology problem such as radar malfunction-or even thick fog. The cause was human stubbornness. Each captain was aware of the other ship’s presence nearby. Both could have steered clear, but according to news reports, neither captain wanted to give way to the other. Each was too proud to yield first. By the time they came to their senses, it was too late.

Pride can be deadly. We need to acknowledge our wrongs and turn from them. Are you letting your pride take you on a deadly course? Today in prayer, give thanks to the Lord, forsake any pride and humbly walk with Christ.

“Pride is the only disease known to man that makes everyone sick except the one who has it.” – Bud Robinson

God’s Word: “When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.” – Proverbs 11:2

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2001, Devotional E-Mail DEVOTIONS IN THE MINOR PROPHETS kennedy@devotional.com