Wednesday 6th May 2020

WEDNESDAY 6th MAY 2020

Good morning friends,

Thinking about things that might keep us from having a closer walk with the Lord, I was reminded of something that happened to me when I was a very young Christian.

I had recently come to do a wee course on Bible study and was very, very full, and not just of Jesus but myself, and my arrogance knew no bounds. I thought I knew it all and was forever correcting my minister on things I felt he was getting all wrong.

That year during Lent a joint church bible study was organised and off course I went along.

There were 20 people from local churches including three ministers and two priests.

Folks were divided up into groups and I was delighted to find I had been placed in the group of clergy, must be because I was much more far advanced in my bible knowledge than the others attending,...................boy was my chest fairly puffed up with pride!

The study progressed and I was quite pleased with myself being able to contribute to the discussion. The study that evening was discussing wealth, and got round to the question “how difficult was it to be very wealthy and still be a Christian?”

Well known Christian footballers and pop stars were cited as examples and Cliff Richard was mentioned.

To which, my minster said "I’m not a fan but that wee lassie over there, (pointing to me) thinks he’s wonderful, in fact I’m surprised she’s not wearing her Cliff Richard tee-shirt tonight, because every time I’ve seen her recently she’s had it on”

I said, "well, that’s where you are wrong George.........” and pulled up my jumper to show off the said tee-shirt.

There was a stunned silence.........and then the priest sitting next to me nudged me and said, “what are you doing?”

I looked down and to my utter humiliation, found I did not have the tee-shirt on and was displaying my bra to all these people I’d been trying so hard to impress.

I looked over at my minister and he had his head in his hands...........he looked up and said, “maybe that’ll learn you” It did.

We know the saying, Pride comes before a fall, it comes in the Book of Proverbs 16:18

Jesus also had things to say about those who are so puffed up in their pride that they fail to recognize that which is really important. Check out Luke : 18:9-14, the parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector, which ends with the words of Jesus, “All those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted”

Pride can so easily be one of the things that clutter up our spirit if we are not careful.

Let us then keep our eyes on Jesus as we journey on.

“ The attitude you should have is the one that Christ Jesus had:

He always had the nature of God, but he did not think that by force he should try to remain equal with God. Instead of this, of his own free will he gave up all he had, and took the nature of a servant. He became like a human being and appeared in human likeness. He was humble and walked the path of obedience all the way to death— his death on the cross. For this reason God raised him to the highest place above and gave him the name that is greater than any other name.”