Day 28 – Pride
My husband and I went on vacation to the beautiful State of Alaska. We came upon a gentleman who as showing off this gorgeous eagle who was recovering from a wing injury. Once that wing healed, he was going to release this gorgeous bird! As we look at this eagle, doesn’t it instill in you a sense of pride for your Country? This pride, however, is not the pride that we are covering today. Today’s pride is the wrong kind – it is self reliant and boastful.
He that is of a proud heart stirreth up strife: but he that putteth his trust in the LORD shall be made fat. (Pro 28:25)
The proud heart thinks himself better than those around him. He does not see that this is sin. In fact, he does not even think he is sinning, but the Word says otherwise.
An high look, and a proud heart, and the plowing of the wicked, is sin. (Pro 21:4)
It is extremely difficult to witness to the proud of heart. They do not see their sin. As long as this person does not see his sin, he will not see that he needs a Saviour. We see this time and time again when we’re out witnessing to people. “Well, I’m not that bad.” One person even told me he never sinned! The sin of pride is what caused Lucifer to be cast out of Heaven. He thought himself to be like God (as good as, if not better).
Sadly, there are many believers today who also struggle with the sin of pride. Yes, they are saved but they grieve the Holy Spirit in their lives by refusing to see what they are doing as sin. This prideful believer causes strife, the Word says. God’s Word says that He resists (stands against, according to Noah Webster’s 1828 Dictionary) the proud but gives grace to the humble.
Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. (Jam 4:6b)
Why would a believer want God to stand against him? Would a son want his father and mother to stand against him? Of course not. This same son would want his father and mother to stand behind him and encourage him. This is exactly what happens when a believer struggles with the sin of pride: his Heavenly Father stands against him.
Oh that we would always keep our hearts soft enough that we hear that still small voice of the Holy Spirit when He tries to point sin out in our lives. When we do so, we grieve Him. I always thought that the word grieve here meant to make sad.
And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. (Eph 4:30)
However, Noah Webster defines this word as:
4. To offend; to displease; to provoke.
When we grieve the Holy Spirit, we offend Him – we displease Him – we provoke Him to deal with us. The Holy Spirit is God. His goal for our lives is to conform us into the image of Jesus Christ and to mold us into vessels of honour. He is our Potter (Rom. 9:21).
When pride settles into the Christian’s life, the Christian stops growing in Christ. How can I say that? The Spirit’s job is to mold us to be Christ-like – there’s no pride in Christ at all. He is the epitome of the word humility. Therefore, if the Christian battles this sin, he is not being Christ-like.
Dear God…
May my mind always be
Focused to be more like You
Help me to recognize my sin
And keep You always in my view
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