PRIDE- THE ROOT OF SIN Jesus prayer also contains a warning that pride can keep us from the love and knowledge of God. What makes us ignorant and blind to the things of God? Certainly intellectual pride, coldness of heart, and stubbornness of will shut out God and his kingdom. Pride is the root of all vice and the strongest influence propelling us to sin. It first vanquishes the heart, making it cold and indifferent towards God. It also closes the mind to Gods truth and wisdom for our lives. What is pride? It is the inordinate love of oneself at the expense of others and the exaggerated estimation of ones own knowledge and importance. SIMPLICITY OF THE HEART Jesus contrasts intellectual pride with child-like simplicity and humility. The simple of heart are like infants in the sense that they see purely and simply without any pretense or falsehood. They instinctlively recognize their utter dependence and reliance on those who are stronger, wiser, and more capable of giving them what they need to live and grow. Those who are truly simple of heart seek the one thing alone that can sustain us in good times and hard times and in every circumstance of life - the summum bonum or greatest good who is God himself. Simplicity of heart is wedded with humility, the queen of virtues, because humility inclines the heart towards truth and grace - the favor and help freely given by one who is all-giving, gracious, and kind towards us. Just as pride is the root or every sin and evil, so humility is the only soil in which the grace and favor of God can take root. It alone takes the right attitude before God and allows him as God to do all - all the good that he wishes to do for us for our own benefit and welfare. God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble (Proverbs 3:34, James 4:6). Only the humble in heart can receive the wisdom which comes from God and and the understanding of Gods perfect goodness and plan for our lives. Do you trust in God with your whole heart and submit to his wisdom and plan for your life? (dailyscripture.net)
Posted on: Fri, 27 Jun 2014 17:30:17 +0000
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