No good pride?
The men who were guarding Jesus began mocking and beating Him. Luke 22:63
Have you ever heard anyone talking about how proud they were? Maybe it was proud of a certain accomplishment or proud of their children or loved one? What about taking pride in your work and a job well done? How about being proud to be an American? These phrases sound like they should be a good thing. Like there is a good kind of pride? However, there is no scripture that indicates that any kind of pride can be good. Every reference to pride in the Bible is in direct contrast to who God is and everything He stands for.
The reason is because pride puts the focus on self. It says: I did some great thing on my own or my child is awesome because they belong to me. When Jesus was baptized, God said “This is my beloved Son that I am well pleased with.” He didn’t say “This is my son that I am so proud of.” When God said He was well pleased, He was putting the focus on Jesus, not on Himself. Pride is what got Satan thrown out of heaven and pride is what got Adam and Eve banished from the garden of Eden. There is no good pride and in fact Proverbs 16:5 says: Every proud heart is an abomination to the LORD, and none will go unpunished! Notice it says every/all not some or many.
In today’s reading, Jesus was taken by the guards to be beaten, mocked and humiliated. This was Jesus ultimate example of humility. Never once did an ounce pride enter in. He didn’t try to fight or stand up for Himself. He didn’t call on Angels and He didn’t show the power of God that was behind Him. Of course, we know it was because this was His assignment, but it was also because He even loved those wretched people that were tormenting Him. Love for others is the antidote for every kind of pride.
Here’s the kicker! This process pleased God but it did not make Him proud. Isaiah 53:10 says Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise Him; He has put Him to grief. In this passage it looks like Jesus is being humiliated, but Philippians 2:8 says that He humbled Himself to be obedient to the death on the cross. The bottom line is that in His humility Jesus showed His love for the world.
What about you and me? Are we willing to show our love for others by being gracious and humble? Or is our main objective to be right and first in all things? Let’s take a step of faith to humble ourselves to serve and love on the people around us and put the atrocity of pride far away from our lips and our life. Heed the warning given in Proverbs 16:18 that says Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.
Today I want to encourage you to examine your heart and life for where you may have fallen into pride. Pride can be identified in the places that you feel you are better than others and when looking down on those who are less fortunate. Pride takes on many forms and can even show up in inferior feelings, so be honest with yourself and get rid of it. Pride is not thinking less of yourself, it is thinking of yourself less than you think of others. Begin today to love others even in their messes and share God’s love with them despite their sinful ways. As a child of God, you are His expression of love released into this sinful world. Follow the example of Jesus and become obedient to the plan for your life to ensure that one day you will hear: This is my beloved child in whom I am well please! It is better to humble yourself than to be humiliated by pride.
Today’s scripture reading: Luke 22:63-71
63 The men who were guarding Jesus began mocking and beating him.
64 They blindfolded him and demanded, “Prophesy! Who hit you?”
65 And they said many other insulting things to him.
66 At daybreak the council of the elders of the people, both the chief priests and the teachers of the law, met together, and Jesus was led before them.
67 “If you are the Messiah,” they said, “tell us.” Jesus answered, “If I tell you, you will not believe me,
68 and if I asked you, you would not answer.
69 But from now on, the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the mighty God.”
70 They all asked, “Are you then the Son of God?” He replied, “You say that I am.”
71 Then they said, “Why do we need any more testimony? We have heard it from his own lips.”
The Daily Dose 