Pride.

Pride. This is such a struggle for so many, but yet it is something so many of us ignore. We think “Prideful? Not me.” But oh yeah… Without even realizing it, pride will creep up on me. It will start in just little thoughts and comparisons of myself with others. This is one thing that hinders me from completely loving others unconditionally, seeing them as Christ sees them, and treating them as better than myself.

2 Corinthians 3:4-5
“Such confidence we have through Christ toward God. Not that we are adequate in ourselves to consider anything as coming from ourselves, but our adequacy is from God…”

Last year at Passion ’07 Beth Moore told the story of when Jesus washed the disciples’ feet. (John 13:3-5) She made a statement that has really stuck with me. She said, “Realize your identity and respond with humility.” We have to realize who we are in Christ. Christ has sanctified us and we are His adopted children. We are children of the King! We are royalty, saints, loved by the God of the universe! But yet, we must respond in humility as Christ did. He was the one who should have been getting His feet washed. But instead it was He who painted such a beautiful picture of humility by humbling Himself and becoming a servant. And then He ultimately humbled Himself by coming to earth to die on a cross with criminals. He was God! King of the Earth! We have to live by His wonderful example. We must love one another and always put others before ourselves. Forget about rights, fairness, or what you deserve. We must give until there is nothing left. John 13:34-35 says, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”

Ephesians 2:3-8
Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

1 Peter 5:5-7
You younger men, likewise, be subject to your elders; and all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, for God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble. Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.

When we humble ourselves, then we get closer to God.