THE MONSTER PRIDE

"Better is the sin which humbles me, than that duty which makes me proud." Thomas Watson

I read this quote and thought how true, God would rather see us humbled by sin, then show pride in what we do. Humility is straight from God, Pride is straight from Satan. It is self-serving, where humilty is Christ-serving. I found this and wanted to share it.

The Monster Pride!
(from Thomas Reade's, "On Humility")

Pride and vanity cannot thrive at the foot of
the cross. It is only when we remove from this
holy ground, that they shoot out their pestiferous
branches in awful luxuriance.

True humility loves the sacred mount of Calvary,
on which the lowly Savior bowed his head and died!

There, repentance sheds the contrite tear.

There, faith views with joy the great atonement.

There, love glows with fervent desires to the Friend of sinners.

Man is naturally a proud, selfish creature.

He tries indeed to appear humble and unselfish,
but the monster Pride is easily seen through the
thin veil of false humility, which is thrown over its
frightful visage; while Self, like another Proteus,
assumes a thousand forms to escape detection.

It is only when the divine Spirit puts forth his
new creating power, through the instrumentality
of the everlasting Gospel, that the proud selfish
sinner becomes the lowly follower of the Lamb.

Humility is, then, the work of grace.

"Oh! Spirit of holiness, open my blind eyes to see
the wonders of your grace. Quicken my dead soul
to feel its sacred influence. Make me truly humble
in heart, emptied of every self exalting thought,
which would oppose the freeness of your love. Mold
my whole soul into the lowliness and meekness of
Jesus. Preserve me from the subtle influence of pride
and vain glory. Keep me ever low in my own eyes.
Root out every sinful, selfish principle; and give me
a single eye which aims at nothing but your glory."

(Psa 75:5 NNAS) Do not lift up your horn on high, Do not speak with insolent pride.

(Prov 11:2 NNAS) When pride comes, then comes dishonor, But with the humble is wisdom.

(Isa 2:17 NNAS) The pride of man will be humbled And the loftiness of men will be abased; And the LORD alone will be exalted in that day.

(1 John 2:16 NNAS) For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world.

Pride is something we all battle throughout our walk. I sometimes question myself is this for the glory of God or is this for the glory of Cristina? As Jonathan Edwards quotes "Nothing sets a person so much out of the devil's reach as humility...Real humiliation is what all the most glorious hypocrites, who make the most splendid show of mortification to the world, and high religious affection, grossly fail in...Pure christian humility disposes a person to take notice of every thing that is good in others, and to make the best of it, and to diminish their failings..."

Cristina