A Passion for Pride or People?

I have had so much fun this weekend (despite the fussing and fighting mixed into the giggling and smiles---because you know the two always have to go together at the age of 4 and 6.). Oh what joy to see my two boy joys playing together. They have been making tents together and even making sure Moses, our dog joins into the adventure of their make believe play world. They are hilarious, so much fun to watch. Oh to be so honest, open, joyful and uninhibited by the world. Why do we have to grow up?

Ok, we do need to grow up. But in the process we need not leave behind our joy and openness. The world seems to press down on us with its expectations, but some of them are incorrect. We need to look to God and Jesus for what really matters. Did Jesus care what others thought of him? I don't think so. He was ridiculed for eating with and hanging out with sinners. Hmmm, wouldn't that include all of us? Who could he hang out with who wasn't a sinner? Only himself and he wasn't a lone ranger.

No he included others in his life, love, ministry. He took time to pour himself out into the lives of his disciples so that they could carry on his work and help others...all the world. He let them spit on him, beat him, scourge him, mock him, torture him and kill him. Why? To honor God, obey his will and save others. There is no room for pride in following God. I have to remind myself daily. It doesn't matter what man thinks, only what God thinks. If I follow the world/man/others, then I am not following God. I must let go of every hinderance in running the race set before me. And oh what a hinderance and weight the requirements of the world are to us. We can never meet them. So why not stop trying? Just focus on serving and following God.

Still, this is not an easy task. We will fail and falter...often. But there is grace in his path. He knows our frailties and humanness and has already covered our mistakes with his blood, grace and provided help along the way. He will never leave us nor forsake us, unlike the world. So let go of pride. The goal of a perfect image is unattainable. The goal of being perfect is unattainable. It only exists for one...Jesus, our savior. So seek after him, be aware of your faults, don't hide them or be ashamed, but walk in his grace and forgive yourself and others. Then continue the race. If you hide behind false pretenses of pride, you are not living in reality. Let go. Give it up. Free youself of the pointless pursuit.

Pride is the ultimate sin. It leads us to all the other sinful paths we can find ourselves on. Remember what Satan was ruined by? He was the highest ranked angel, the most beautiful and gifted, but still, his pride got ahold of him, ate away at his peace and caused him to become the enemy of God. He decided he wanted to become God and take over his place. Sound familiar? It is scary to think that, that is what we do in our own little ways everyday. Don't we want to be in control and tell God what to do? Eeeek. The truth hurts...but it is helpful for change. Pride is evil and insidious. It creeps in subtly at first and them tightens its grip on us. We have a passion for pride, bitterness and anger, but not a passion for people. We must have a passion for loving others. Pride inhibits that. It narrows our world down to just us. Expand your vision and in doing so break the bonds of pride. Stop looking at yourself and keep refocusing your vision on others and God.

In bending our knees to serve others we are not becoming thier slaves or servants. It is not demeaning, but uplifting. It adds character, meaning, depth to our lives that nothing else can. Living for ourselves is living for nothing. Live for God and serve others as an outpouring of that love. You will be amazed at the results. It is a daily struggle, but it is worth it.

So give, love, laugh freely. Extend yourself to others and join in the play. It is a joyful work to serve God and others. Our God is very creative and powerful. Let him use you in his amazing plan of serving others. It is the best ride ever! Even though we grow up we are still His children...children of God. So live and give joyfully. God loves to see us that way.