What is in your Heart?

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Good morning.

Based on the last few messages and Jesus’ example it seems that we need to pray: “Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting,” (Psalm 139:23, 24). One of the iniquities we must eradicate from our hearts, when the Lord reveals it, is pride if we’d like to get close to the Lord and receive revelation from Him.

How does the Lord see pride?

·         Did Jesus ever ignore people or considered their behaviour inappropriate? When the lame man was lowered from the roof of the house He didn’t raise an eyebrow, when the woman with a bleeding disease touched His garment in the midst of one of His greatest moments of popularity, He didn’t turn around frustrated thinking ‘what it is now’. He could have ignored her and enjoyed all the attention He got from the crowds, but He turned to her and for those few moments focused all His love on her. When the Canaanite women approached Him to deliver her daughter, He knew it was inappropriate, but her faith and His love got the upper hand. He touched people considered by everybody else to be unclean, allowed prostitutes to anoint Him whilst the church leaders looked down on them, etc. How about you?

·         Did Jesus ever expect to be served? We have no record of it. Even though His disciples attempted to treat Him like the earthly king they suspected Him to be, He didn’t give them occasion to serve Him. He was part of the team as much as they were and He served. He fed the crowds, healed everyone, delivered people from their bondages and demon possession, patiently taught the people and walked miles and days on end to accomplish what He was called to do. He could have chosen the Temple to work from, made it His church, become this famous, great pastor and let everyone come to Him and serve Him and hear from Him. How about you?

·         Jesus dealt with the sin of pride. He gave both His disciples and the religious leaders a good piece of His mind because they considered themselves higher than others (Matthew 23 http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2023&version=NIV1984), and (Matthew 20-23 and especially 24-28 http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2020:20-28&version=NIV1984).

Don’t leaders have the right to be honoured and considered higher than others based on passages like 1 Thessalonians 5:12, 13: “Now we ask you, brothers, to respect those who work hard among you, who are over you in the Lord and who admonish you. Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work,” and various other passages? The Word commands people to honour leaders and ministers of the Word, but ministers are instructed to serve as Jesus set the example and not to demand honour and act like kings with many titles. Jesus said that if we act with the intention to be honoured, we’ve had our reward. I would prefer to be rewarded in heaven... wouldn’t you? If we serve humbly, the Holy Spirit will see to it that we’re honoured and respected. We don’t have to ignore those we consider lower than ourselves, suppress other’s gifts and opinions so that we can appear more impressive, etc.

Serving those given to you means to admit to them when and where you need them and to build them up, especially if they have gifts to contribute that you don’t have. Ignoring people is loveless and just as good as bullying and reveals a heart full of pride.

Pride comes from wrong motives, so maybe we should ask the Lord to reveal our motives. If we do like Jesus did, the Lord will reward us with success on earth and glory in heaven.

Lord, forgive me my pride and show me how to be like Jesus.

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