Do away with pride: Nikola Kalinić as case study

Daniel 5:20 KJV
But when his heart was lifted up, and his mind hardened in pride, he was deposed from his kingly throne, and they took his glory from him

Romans 12:3 KJV
For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.

Proverbs 29:23 KJV
A man's pride shall bring him low: but honour shall uphold the humble in spirit.

Proverbs 16:18 KJV
Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.

Nikola Kalinić is a Croatian professional football player born on 5th of January 1988. He plays for the Italian club, AC Milan and Croatia national team as a striker.

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On May 21st, less than a month before the start of the 2018 world cup, Croatia, one of the countries representing Europe name a 23 man squad for the world cup. Nikola Kalinić was also part of the 23 players named for the world cup.

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Name of players that made the list were:
Goalkeepers:

• Subasic
• Kalinic
• Livakovic

Defenders:

• Corluka
• Vida
• Strinic
• Lovren
• Vrsaljko
• Pivaric
• Jedvaj
• Mitrovic
• Caleta-Car.

Midfielders:

• Modric
• Rakitic
• Kovacic
• Badelj
• Brozovic
• Bradaric.

Attacker:

• Mandzukic
• Perisic
• Kalinic
• Kramaric
• Pjaca
• Rebic.

Croatia was drawn to play against Nigeria, Argentina and Iceland in Group D of the tournament. They played their first match against Nigeria on Saturday 16th of June 2018 which they won 2 - 0

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As we all know, only 11 players can play with maximum substitute of 3 while others will be on bench as reserve for substitute. Among the players that were on bench for this particular match was Kalinic.

Later during the match, the coach wanted to bring in Kalinic as substitute but he refused to be substituted. He believed he should be in the first 11 players that started the match. He believed he is good enough and even better than many of the players that started the match.

Manager Zlatko Dalic said that Kalinic’s reluctance to enter matches and participate in training was a recurring issue, so he needed players who were fit for World Cup action.

His ego, pride and disobedience made the coach to send him back home out of the tournament.

Now, this same Croatian team has made to the final of the tournament without Kalinic after defeating England in the semi finals by 2 goals to 1. They are going to play against France in the final on Sunday and if they are able to defeat France, it means their going to collect medals as Champions while Kalinic will be at home watching his team mates celebrating the trophy.

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While all the Croatian players that play in world cup will be called a world cup winner and win a medal, Kalinic name will not enter the list of world cup winners.

This is exactly what will happen to people that are proud and disobey God. Their name will not enter into the book of life.

When God gives you instructions, don't feel too big to do what He ask you to do, else you will be sent out of His presence.

Learn from Kalinic

I remain my humble self @fatherfaith

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