Pride
The Thieves of Joy
There are things in our lives that rob us of joy and we can call them the killjoys of the Christian life. These killjoys are strategic and scheming thieves. They are relentless in their attempted robbery and they are masters of disguise. Seeing that it is our duty to be a people that rejoice (Phil. 4:4; 1 Thess. 5:16), it must be our mission to recognize these thieves and…
A Profile of a Proud Person
“God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble” (James 4:6; 1 Pet. 5:5). Pride is an ugly and consuming sin that God hates (Prov. 6:16-17; 16:5). Pride comes from the heart (Mark 7:21-23) and leads to contention (Prov. 13:10; 28:25) and callousness (Dan. 5:20). The final outcome of this sin is disgrace (Prov. 11:2), debasement (Prov. 29:23) and finally…
Selfishness
Selfishness is something we are all too well familiar with. Me, myself and I are the three people we tend to be most consumed with. Selfishness is the state of being concerned primarily with self and it begins with the craving to satisfy your desires, and it is then carried out by actions that are all about you. The sin of selfishness is such a debilitating sin. It robs…
Contemplating the Cross
Many things in this world consume our minds and we can lead lives that are very busy leaving little time for contemplation. But this is damaging for us. Contemplation and consideration are important, especially when it comes to the things of God. The hymn writer Isaac Watts (1674-1748) wrote these amazing words in his hymn When I Survey the Wondrous Cross,