by David Chadwick
Pride is today’s sin that some of our congregation brought forward to lay at the foot of the cross last April during our Easter Service of Darkness. Pride is the belief that we are the master of our own destiny. It is the belief that we know better than God.
The most important verse in the Bible about pride may be Proverbs 16:18 which says, “Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.” Sin is sin, but THE major sin of all may be human pride. It is what caused Adam and Eve to rebel against God. Pride caused the devil to become the devil (Isaiah 14:13-14). It is the one sin that is unforgivable and will send you straight to hell.
Pride is the ultimate dismissal of grace because it makes you think that you can earn your salvation through your own good works and human efforts. Pride keeps you from seeing your own sin and receiving the grace of Jesus because you never think you need it.
The antidote to pride is humility. A teachable spirit. Where I know God is God and I am not and most of my problems come when I am not discerning the difference between the two extremes.
So, how do you know if you’ve conquered pride once you lay it before Jesus at the foot of the wonderful cross? Generally, you’ll have great thanksgiving in your heart. You will look around you and recognize that only God could have established such a beautiful creation. We are the ones who have messed it up. It’s our sin that has contributed to a less than perfect order. You’ll find yourself surrendered and aware that it is an absolute privilege to be a part of God’s story and to be able to experience the gifts that exist in his creation even in the midst of sin and brokenness.
Your perspective changes when pride is broken. You will begin to love to worship the Lord. You will be glad for every opportunity you have to sit at his feet, to gather with other believers, to pray, to worship corporately with other believers in the house of the Lord (Psalm 122:1-2). You will love to sing to him and praise him for creating you, giving you life, and awakening you to salvation!
You will begin to see that all of life is a gift. Eternal life is a gift. When this happens, you will know that pride has been eliminated from your life!
Today’s Prayer of Confession: Father God, deliver me from evil. Remove pride and replace it with HUMILITY (James 4:10).