18 April 2009

Pride Destroys Your Personal Relationship With Others and God

The greatest person in the kingdom of heaven is the one who makes himself humble like this child. - Matthew 18:4 (NCV)

Whoever then may humble himself as this child, he is the greater in the reign of the heavens. - Matthew 18:4 (Young's Literal Translation)



Let's take a brief look at your day-to-day life. Oh, and be totally honest with yourself. Who or what do you truly honor, worship? How do you worship? What does it mean to honor others? What does it mean to honor God? You may be surprised, embarrassed, or even angry at the true and real answer you provide. I know that I don't always honor others in a way that is pleasing God. I allow pride to get in the way. We all do from time to time, but when we continue to do it ... that is sin. And sin is no where near pleasing God. In fact, He abhors sin.

How can you stop? Within another message, I mentioned a few things like:
1. You have to recognize your fault (identify) 2. You have to face it head-on (accept and confront) 3. You have to humble yourself (vulnerable to others through God) 4. You have to admit it to someone else (demonstrate God's love)

Well, you have to do the same thing and adding confession/repentance to God.

You see, the less you seek to honor yourself, the more God will honor and bless you. Pride builds barriers that keep God out of your life. If you're like me, you want to keep God IN your life. It's very important. The Word says, "abide in me and I will abide you". A valuable asset.

Humility opens the way for God to work in you because it makes you willing to seek His help and honor Him for it. We should all be seeking God first in Matthew 6:33 it reads: But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. (KJV). Pride reaches no further than your own ego. That like saying, "I trust you as far as I can throw you". Humility is true greatness because its effects reach into the Kingdom of Heaven, and that is so much more rewarding than a bruise.

Song: Pride
by Jeremy Camp


Every single word I say
You know it before I speak
You know every thought
The deepest part of me

You draw me closer than I see
Your presence is every thing I need to be
The child that you've created me to be
I'm ready now to see it your way

I lay down my pride
My desires my demise
I'm ready now to see it your way
I'm done I'm thru ignoring you now it's true
I'm kneeling at the cross of your grace
Lay down my pride

I was faced with passing time
But I knew the choice was mine
To finally come to you
And give you all control
I've wandered miles to find my way
And then you revealed this simple faith
I know that you can see the secrets of my soul

The cross the blood you shed for me
Your back was ripped and bruised
So I can know your love

I kneel I bow to you my kind




Are you too proud to pursue what God says is true greatness?

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