Pride

False Humility

False humility is pride in disguise. I know because I’m a prideful jerk who sometimes likes to pretend he’s humble. Humility is an interesting thing…We are to be striving for it, yet, the only time we can be sure we’ve attained it, is when we stop looking at ourselves…when we don’t know that we’ve attained it. As soon as you realize(start to think) you are humble, you stop being humble.

So there is our conundrum. What is one to do?

“…let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrews 12:1-2

We look to Jesus. If we are focusing on Christ instead of ourselves…that is humility. Pride is simply focusing and worrying about yourself more than others. This is the root of sin. The true path to humility is Jesus. As we focus on Jesus, learn more about Jesus, learn to love Jesus…We forget about ourselves.

When our desire becomes Jesus, and making his name great…not our own…then we are humble.

BUT…we won’t realize it. The only way to be humble, is to not realize you are humble. We can only do this, by looking to Jesus…by meditating on the things of God…

I believe by meditating on the things of God, and focusing on Christ…We will slowly begin to imitate him. The Holy Spirit will begin to change us. We will be molded by God into the likeness of his Son.

Ultimately though, and here is the real tough part…I don’t think we will ever be truly humble on this side of heaven. In the deepest darkest places in our hearts…in the hearts of even the most humble among us…there is pride. Again, we must learn to focus on Christ instead of ourselves. This is easier said than done. Only by focusing on Christ, and resting in the fact that because of his humility, this prideful jerk could be saved and enjoy fellowship with God…well, that is my only hope.

And it’s your only hope too. Like I said though, this is easier said than done.

I know because I’m a prideful jerk who sometimes likes to pretend he’s humble.

But on my best days…I realize I’m really just a jerk.

Thank God, Jesus saves prideful jerks like me.

Book Review-Winter Light

I loved this book. Beautiful writing, frightening honesty. A pleasant read, but uncomfortable as well, as I identify so closely with all that the author is saying. This is one of those books that I read and think, “Man, I could have written this book.” But the truth is that I probably would never have written this book. It is much too painful to be this honest.

‘Winter Light’ is the journal of Bruce Ray Smith as he seeks and explores humility and what it means to be humble. It is his reflections on his own pride and sinfulness…It is his journey of repentance and surrender and failure. Who of us cannot identify with that in our own lives, especially as it relates to pride? Most times we probably don’t even realize that pride is at the heart of our sin…It is the driving force and the root of our sin. Bruce Ray Smith places his heart upon the page in this book…many times as I read, I felt as if my heart were there with his. I have a feeling it may take me a while to recover from this read…but I plan to return to it often.

**Full Disclosure**
I received a free copy of this book for review. I was not required to write a positive review.