Happy Tuesday,


If we were to take inventory of ourselves what would we find? What items might be left in the "back-warehouse" of our souls? There is one thing that no matter how we label it will always be the same. It may be put in a different place, or found under a different title but it still remains just as corrupt as it started. This dreaded piece of us that cannot be lost is our pride. If you and I were countries it would be our #1 export. Pride is our top commodity.

This serious character flaw that we drag around is wrapped in selfishness. In fact being focused on its self is prides DNA. And we are essentially plagued with this disease inherently. As apart of our sin nature was this pride that continues to haunt us today just as it did everyone in history. Tracing its roots we see it in the Garden of Eden as well as in Lucifer (the original gansta).

In heaven some time ago Lucifer, being a prominent angel, had an epiphany "I'm cooler than God!" How wrong he was. This lead to a massive rebellion and a permanent deportation of L-dogg and his posse. This is the writer's speculation but I'm guessing this motivated his sabotage attempt in Eden. He was probably pretty upset at his massive embarrassment in front of his friends. So he figured "I aint goin down like at!" so he plotted how to take mankind down with him. The O.G. doesn't play.

To successfully disrupt the harmony in Eden he knew he needed to get them to really screw things up. Not just missing an evening stroll through the garden with Jesus, but something huge. A mistake that would cost them eternity. What could be added into the equation that would set things off worse than anything imaginable? Lucifer found his trump card, the final hammer that would severe ties between mankind and the Godhead. Self-preservation a.k.a.-PRIDE.


The charity that hastens to proclaim its good deeds, ceases to be charity, and is only pride and ostentation.
William Hutton

Our pride, that is attached to our flesh, has been the foundation for so many wrongs that have been done. Pride is the root of our sin. Pride has our focus off of God and others and has turned it inward. How can I look the smartest, best, most in charge, least embarrassed, most knowledgeable, most all-together, most spiritual, least sinful, most holy, and best person all-around?


Proverbs 11:2
When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.

Proverbs 15:33
The fear of the LORD teaches a man wisdom, and humility comes before honor.

Philippians 2:3
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.
Though we may have been stuck with this ball and chain of vanity, we have a tool to fight it, and fight it we must. Everyday there will be opportunities to feed your pride or kill it. Kill might be a misnomer but severely wound it is just as good. This is a genetic flaw that was added to the mix with Adam and Eve but we still have the ability to combat it. So let us fight with everything we have in us.

Colossians 3:12
Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.

1 Peter 5:5
Young men, in the same way be submissive to those who are older. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble."


Let's drag out our rusty weapons of humility and begin to do some damage on this wall of pride in our lives. We would be surprised at what might happen if we made a conscience effort to make the change, to choose humility instead of self-protection. To walk the narrow road rather than the wide. To seek that place of grace instead of the tension because of opposition from God.

Today when you are in a place of difficulty and you can feel something inside of you rising up ready to chop down someone or something in order that you might be the one that comes out on top, take a step back and find the route of humility rather than pride. Try and carve your own path of meekness instead of the six-lane freeway of arrogance, conceit and selfishness.


Take care,
Pastor Chris