The pursuit for fame, wealth and pleasures seems to be engrained in our DNA. We run after it all our lives. Eyes that never fills, hearts that never stops yearning and minds that never rests. Seasons comes and we wait for the next. All our lives, we look forward to something that is out of sight. We envy and seek to outrun others. We have to remind ourselves that we have our own race to run, not someone else. Inherently, humans fight and compete within and without. There is no rest. There’s evil right within us. We cannot help but seek a greater virtue outside of ourselves.
There’s one thing that hinders our love for God and people: a bitter soul. O that God would give us a pure heart! Yes, a pure heart. The ultimate cry of a true believers’ heart is a pure soul. The ability to truly rejoice with the success of our friends and seek them greater good. The attitude of John the Baptist: I must become less, He must become greater. The attitude of Jonathan: Let David be the king and I’ll serve him. This we ought to seek: a pure heart, yes, a pure heart.
Christians are called to be servants, not lords. We are called to wash the feet of our fellow servants. Remember His words: I have come not to be served, but to serve. The heart to serve, pray and read without the limelight. O that pride, the downfall of the kings and the mighty. It’s there with us but we have to recognize its head and crush it. Without recognizing its deathly fang, it will kill us.
May I mention the spiritual pride of Christians: I pray more, I read more, I have greater faith, I’m more righteous and I give more. It is not apparently apparent but the snake is hatching its egg. Be mindful of your state! Be careful, Christians, when you think you are standing tall because the ax is about to take the tree down.
Rarely do we hear sermons on the pride of Christians. We have to examine our ways and take a hard look on ourselves. Look at our filthy righteous appearance in the eyes of men. It will be exposed by God in front of the world. And it is being exposed from time to time. See how Christian leaders fall and I tremble that we put the name of Christ to disrepute.
Now the question remains: are we better than anyone? Not at all. If it was not for his mercy and grace, we would have all perished. The realization of knowing our own insufficiencies and weakness should drive us to the feet of the Cross again and again. I do not, for a second, think that I’m alive because of my faith or good deeds, no. Will it be wrong on God’s part to wipe me out tomorrow, no? He is the creator and I’m just a speck of dust. We are nothing and He is everything.
Prayer: Dear Lord, we ask of you to erase the pride, the anger, bitterness and jealousy that is binding us. Free us in Jesus name and fill us with love and purity of hearts for your glory, amen.
