John 8:36 – “If therefore the Son shall make you free, you shall be free indeed.”

As I prayed, read, and mused on the Word of God today, the danger and damage of pride gripped my heart.   Obadiah 3 warned of pride. Jonah, a prophet of God, was miraculously saved but allowed pride to consume him.

He prophesied destruction and judgment on Nineveh, and they repented.   Think about it.   If his heart had been right, repentance and restoration would have caused him to rejoice.   He saw the mercy of God through the eyes of pride.   His Word did not come to pass, so he was embarrassed.  His pride was more concerned with his prophecy being fulfilled than with people being saved.   Pride is ugly and mean.

Pride elevates religious tradition above God and people. The Pharisees took pride in their religious rigidity and were heartless.

Pride prevents repentance.  Repentance requires humbling ourselves and admitting not only that we have done wrong, but also that we are wrong and insufficient in ourselves to redeem ourselves.   It requires surrender. Pride must be placed on the altar.   Pride produces shame.   Shame is the embarrassment that comes with exposure and admission of inadequacy and being flawed in our own eyes and the eyes of others.

To overcome pride, we must see Jesus!   In Jesus is true freedom, for in Him, we are no longer dependent upon ourselves.   In Him, we are free from the three deadly, consuming, destructive traits.  Lust of the flesh. Lust of the eyes. Pride of life.   We die to ourselves to live in Him.   Pride dies in His presence.

God’s promise and provision is freedom.   Are we willing to die, truly and completely die?

John 8:36 – “If therefore the Son shall make you free, you shall be free indeed.”   Receive it and live with no residue of destructive pride!

May today be a day free of the ravages of pride and filled with the peace and presence of the LORD!