Pride

Have you ever had this experience when your heart pierced and stung so painfully that you feel wholeheartedly ready to crush someone down because of their pride? I have. A lot of times in my Christian life, I find it hard to play a Cinderella when the injustice and wrongdoings are being done right in front of my eyes. I suddenly feel a strong sense of hatred towards those people. And all I want to do is to cause them pain the way they’ve done to me.

I know. I am a fool, like Nabal, Abigail’s prideful husband. I am no different than those ones I’m accusing of. I’m carrying my pride on my head like a golden crown when actually it’s just nothing but a wooden one. I’m stubborn just as a donkey is, and as stiff-necked as the Israelites were during the wandering time in the desert. Ernest Gordon, a PoW during the WWII in a Japanese camp, once wrote:

Death was still with us – no doubt about that. But we were slowly being freed from its destructive grip…Selfishness, hatred…and pride were all anti-life. Love…self-sacrifice…and faith, on the other hand, were the essence of life…gifts of God to men…Death no longer had the last word at Chungkai.

It’s hard to think of Jesus when the fire of anger stirred up in me. But think I must. Jesus is God who created heaven and earth…but…He is also the One who lowered Himself down to wash the twelve men’s feet with such humbleness and meekness.

If He so loved us, can we not love each other? Having been forgiven, can we not forgive? Having feasted at the table of grace, can we not share a few crumbs? "My dear, dear friends, if God loved us like this, we certainly ought to love each other" (1 John 4:11 MSG).
Facing Your Giant, Max Lucado

"Pride makes me cry
And I’m tired of being tried
Persecution, pressures, trials
What are these?
Beads of sweat drippin’ on to dirt
My back’s bent, my knees hurt
And now I’m watching those proud dudes
Casually waltzing in to receive the reward they don’t deserve
But who am I to judge?
I ain’t gonna do anything
Because the Righteous and Just
Had gone through the same thing
Humble and meek
Washing the twelve disciples’ feet
Can I do that?
Can you do that?
Prove yourself as a true Christian!

So get rid of your pride
It ain’t easy like a piece of pie
But it can be done
Through Him who is the saving One
Repent and surrender
No excuse whatsoever
“Abide in Me. Abide in Love”
And into Your River I dove
Make me decrease
So You may increase
Take my pride away
Or my faith be swayed"

May we never forget who we are...

Mink