A prison of pride is filled with self-made men and women determined to pull themselves up by their own bookstraps even if they land on their rear ends. It doesnt matter what they did or to whom they did it or where they will end up. It only matters that "I did it my way".
Youve seen teh prisoners. Youve seen teh alcoholics who wont admit his drinking problem. Youve seen the women who refuses to talk to anyone about her fears. Youve seen the business man who is adamntly rejects help, even when his dreams are falling apart.
Perhaps just to see such a prisoner all you have to do is look in the mirror.
" If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just" (1 John 1:9). The biggest word in scriptures just might be that two letter one, IF. For confessing sins- admitting failure- is exactly what prisoners of pride refuse to do.
To mourn for your sins is a natural outflow of poverty of spirit. Th esecond beautitude (blessed are those who mourn) should follow the first ( Blessed are the poor in spirit). But thats not always the case. Many deny their weaknesses. Many know they are wrong, yet pretend they are right. As a result they never taste the equisite sorrow of repentance.
Of all the paths to joy, this one has to be the strangest. True blessedness, Jesus says , begins with deep sadness.
Blessed are those who know they are in trouble and have enough sence to admit it.
1 John 1:9
"9If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness."
Mathew 5:1-10
" 1Now when he saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, 2and he began to teach them saying:
3"Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
5Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the earth.
6Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be filled.
7Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
8Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they will see God.
9Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called sons of God.
10Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."
Luke 18:9-14
"To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everybody else, Jesus told this parable: 10"Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11The Pharisee stood up and prayed about[a] himself: 'God, I thank you that I am not like other men—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. 12I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.'
13"But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, 'God, have mercy on me, a sinner.'
14"I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."
Youve seen teh prisoners. Youve seen teh alcoholics who wont admit his drinking problem. Youve seen the women who refuses to talk to anyone about her fears. Youve seen the business man who is adamntly rejects help, even when his dreams are falling apart.
Perhaps just to see such a prisoner all you have to do is look in the mirror.
" If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just" (1 John 1:9). The biggest word in scriptures just might be that two letter one, IF. For confessing sins- admitting failure- is exactly what prisoners of pride refuse to do.
To mourn for your sins is a natural outflow of poverty of spirit. Th esecond beautitude (blessed are those who mourn) should follow the first ( Blessed are the poor in spirit). But thats not always the case. Many deny their weaknesses. Many know they are wrong, yet pretend they are right. As a result they never taste the equisite sorrow of repentance.
Of all the paths to joy, this one has to be the strangest. True blessedness, Jesus says , begins with deep sadness.
Blessed are those who know they are in trouble and have enough sence to admit it.
1 John 1:9
"9If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness."
Mathew 5:1-10
" 1Now when he saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, 2and he began to teach them saying:
3"Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
5Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the earth.
6Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be filled.
7Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
8Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they will see God.
9Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called sons of God.
10Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."
Luke 18:9-14
"To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everybody else, Jesus told this parable: 10"Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11The Pharisee stood up and prayed about[a] himself: 'God, I thank you that I am not like other men—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. 12I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.'
13"But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, 'God, have mercy on me, a sinner.'
14"I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."
