Good morning Jesus, I desperately need your light today…
“As all the people were listening, Jesus said to his disciples, “Beware of the experts in the law. They like walking around in long robes, and they love elaborate greetings in the marketplaces and the best seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at banquets. They devour widows’ property, and as a show make long prayers. They will receive a more severe punishment.” (Luke 20:45-47)
Jesus warns us against pride. The Greek word for “Beware” or “Be on guard against" above is a present imperative and indicates that pride is something that is constantly lurking and something we need to be constantly on the watch for and guarding ourselves against. Pride separates. It separates us from others and from God. Pride in things you have leads you to covet them, forget that everything you have is a gift from God, and cause you not to be generous. Pride in finances and professions leads to entitlement and a false rationalization that “I deserve this because I worked hard.” Pride in your heart leads to narcissism and placing yourself above others.
Our guard against pride does not come from comparison to others. We read this parable on pride Jesus taught a couple days ago in Luke chapter 18:
“Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood and prayed about himself like this: ʻGod, I thank you that I am not like other people: extortionists, unrighteous people, adulterers - or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give a tenth of everything I get.ʼ The tax collector, however, stood far off and would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ʻGod, be merciful to me, sinner that I am!ʼ I tell you that this man went down to his home justified rather than the Pharisee. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted.”” (Luke 18:10-14)
Our measure of our pride or lack of pride does not come from our comparison to any others or anything, but solely by our comparing ourselves to Jesus who gave us the example when; “He humbled himself, by becoming obedient to the point of death—even death on a cross!” (Phillipians 4:8) We Compare ourselves to the cross. It was only in His complete obedience, complete humility, complete absence of pride that He was able to do the will of the Father. You can not be full of pride and endure people cussing you, spitting in your face, striping you naked in public, smacking you around, beating you, then slaughtering you on the cross. I would have “Bowed up”, Jesus bowed down.
Prayer To Christ The Prisoner
Lord, because you wanted to save the world, you decided for the following things to happen:
· You became a man
· You were born a human
· You were circumcised
· You were rejected by your neighbors
· You were betrayed by a close friend, a traitor
· You were cuffed and shackled and led stumbling to court
· You were forced to stand in front of judges and prosecutors, with no attorney to help you
· You were accused by lying, paid witnesses
· You were tortured with beatings, insults and whippings
· You had men spit in your face
· You had sharp thorns shoved into your scalp
· You were punched in the face, and sticks beat your body and head
· You were not allowed any medical treatment
· You were blindfolded, had your clothes stripped off your body and forced to carry the thing which with you were killed, almost half a mile
· You were nailed through your hands and feet to a heave piece of wood
· You were hung on a cross between two criminals, in front or the whole ciry, and your family and friends
· You ere offered bitter wine to drink, had a spear shoved into your side and left to die with no appeal
Lord, you willingly allowed these things to happen to save the world and to save me. When I think of these things that happened to you, your sufferings, I ask you to bring me to the same paradise that you brought the thief that was killed with you. .All he asked of you was to be forgiven. This I ask also. Amen. (Taken from the Kairos Freedom Gud=ide)
So forgive me Jesus when in my pride I read the passages above in Luke 20:45-47 and 18:10-14 and others come to mind and I don’t think they apply directly to me, in Jesus’ name. Lord have mercy, Christ have mercy, Lord have mercy.
My family, as we head deeper into the final weeks of Holy Week and you honestly reflect on your true level of walking with Jesus, I pray you will confront the pride that resides in you. Please pray the same for me. God bless you my friends!
I really would love to hear your reflections, and I believe they would encourage others. So please share your reflections and prayers with us from chapter 19 in the comment box below.
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