Psalm 10:4 "In his pride the wicked man does not seek him; in all his thoughts there is no room for God."
When we think of the first sin we often think of Adam and Eve and the fall in the garden of Eden, but we forget that the devil's fall from grace set the stage for their fall. We learn about the evil one's fall in Isaiah 14:12-15.
Now think with me for a moment about Adam and Eve. What was their sin? Eating from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil was only part of the equation. It was the physical act of what was actually going on in their hearts. They didn't just ignorantly decide to eat the fruit. satan had told them that if they ate it, they would be like the gods which brought all kinds of thoughts to their minds. By eating the fruit it meant they would be equal to God Himself. They wouldn't have to serve any longer but could be served. They jumped into their sin fully knowing what they were doing. And then, when God set out to hold them accountable for their actions, they played the blame game, not even man enough to confess of their sin.
Mankind has always had the problem of desiring to glorify self rather than God. Pride can be summarized as an attitude of self-sufficiency, self-importance and self-exaltation in relation to God. It is an attitude of indifference and disdain in relation to others. As C.S. Lewis observed, “Pride is spiritual cancer: it eats up the very possibility of love, or contentment, or even common sense”. Pride is a dangerous foe and we could even make the case that it is the root of all other sin. James 1:14-15 tells us, “Each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire, when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death”. As people lose or suppress the knowledge of God, spiritual darkness sets in. In their thinking, God becomes smaller and they become bigger. People begin to think more highly of themselves and have an exaggerated view of their own abilities and self worth and as James tells us "pride goes before destruction".
My friends, God will not allow the created to exalt him/her self above the Creator. So what is our defense or our antidote to this cancerous enemy. We are to humble ourselves. Micah 6:8 says, "He has shown you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God." Humility may be out of fashion but in God's eyes, it should be the basic staple in everyone's wardrobe. Clothe yourself each morning in humble adoration to our King and consider others better than yourself least we find ourselves in opposition to God. "Humility is the gateway into the grace and the favor of God." (by Harold Warner)
This precious quote by Corrie Ten boom relates to what our stance on pride should be. "I will sniff the bouquet but pass the flowers to God!" What pride in your life is keeping you from experiencing God's favor?
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Personalize this prayer.
Dear Lord,
I have seen pride show it's nasty fangs over the years and even though I want no part of it, I find myself looking at it square in the face as if to say, aha! Please forgive me. I know that I am nothing and can do nothing apart from you. Please continue to remind me that I am not my own, that I've been bought for a price. I am yours, Lord! I do not want to displease You! I want to give others a glimpse of all that You have done for me. You reached down from the heavenly heights and lifted me up from the miry clay and gave me a firm place to stand and I will forever be grateful! Help me to always put others before myself and remember where I've come from for it is this perspective on life that will always keep me humble and indebted to You, my God and my King.
In Jesus Name,
Amen
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