The one thing WE all have in common is pride. We all battle it big or small, it is the sin that crosses each and everyones path. I question the things I do at times, is it for the glory of God or is it for my glory. The nearer we approach to heaven, the lower we grow in the estimate of ourselves. The more we seek the Lord in what we do, the less we see of ourselves. When we die to self, then and only then does God get the glory He and only He deserves.
Pride and vanity cannot thrive at the foot of the cross. It is only when we remove from this holy ground, that they shoot out their pestiferous branches in awful luxuriance. True humility loves the sacred mount of Calvary, on which the lowly Savior bowed his head and died There, repentance sheds the contrite tear.There, faith views with joy the great atonement. There, love glows with fervent desires to the Friend of sinners. Man is naturally a proud, selfish creature. He tries indeed to appear humble and unselfish, but the monster Pride is easily seen through the thin veil of false humility, which is thrown over its frightful visage; while Self, like another Proteus,assumes a thousand forms to escape detection. It is only when the divine Spirit puts forth his new creating power, through the instrumentality of the everlasting Gospel, that the proud selfish sinner becomes the lowly follower of the Lamb. Humility is, then, the work of grace. "Oh! Spirit of holiness, open my blind eyes to see the wonders of your grace. Quicken my dead soul to feel its sacred influence. Make me truly humble in heart, emptied of every self exalting thought, which would oppose the freeness of your love. Mold my whole soul into the lowliness and meekness of Jesus. Preserve me from the subtle influence of pride and vain glory. Keep me ever low in my own eyes.Root out every sinful, selfish principle; and give me a single eye which aims at nothing but your glory."
(from Thomas Reade's, "On Humility")
James 4:6 But he giveth more grace. Wherefore the scripture saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace to the humble.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
5 comments:
Amen! I half expected to see a picture of me at the end of this post as an example! This does explain what my pride is like. This is a huge problem for me that affects so many different parts of my life and shows up in different ways but really is just pride at the bottom of it all. He is working on me!
Amen Luvvum, thank the Lord He does not give up on us!
Cristina
"Let him who boasts boast in the Lord." 2 Corinthians 10:17
-J. Kaiser
Hi John,
Amen!
One of the 7 deadly sins.
Amen Christina!!
Post a Comment