Our sermons lately have been centered on Genesis 3 and the first sin(s) of mankind. There certainly have been many since! But what is at root?
Here's what Jonathan Edwards had to say:
"Alas, how much pride have the best of us in our hearts! It is the worst part of the body of sin and death; the first sin that ever entered into the universe, and the last that is rooted out: it is God's most stubborn enemy!"
The above quotation is from a discussion on spiritual pride in particular, which Edwards calls "the door by which the devil comes into the hearts of those who are zealous for the advancement of religion." He is not speaking of a true zeal that weeps for the lost; he is speaking of a counterfeit zeal that tears down one's Christian brothers and sisters.
"The spiritually proud person is apt to find fault with other saints, that they are low in grace; and to be much in observing how cold and dead they are; and being quick to discern and take notice of their deficiencies. But the eminently humble Christian has so much to do at home, and sees so much evil in his own heart, and is so concerned about it, that he is not apt to be very busy with other hearts..."
Not a whole lot different from the sin of gossip, is it?
Lord, protect us from pride - worldly pride and spiritual pride!
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1 comment:
Amen, brother. I see pride infiltrating every aspect of my life. At the root of nearly every sin seems to be pride. May the Lord do a work in my heart to expunge the sinful pride in my life - sins of looking out for myself and my own interests instead of acting for the interests of others, and especially putting Christ first in all I do.
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