the insidious nature of pride...

The current treadmill read... and the audio-book in the van... both speak to His complete work on the cross... and our surrender to that work...

Our only need... to rest in Him...

Always, always, always seek the cross. It is there that we see our example for service and sacrifice to others. It is there that we get the power to serve and sacrifice for others. And it is there that we receive forgiveness when we fail in serving and sacrificing for others.

---Mark Chandler, To Live is Christ to Die is Gain

Always... always... always... seek the cross...

Nothing more is needed... but here is where I stumble... instead of seeking Him... I look to me...

What more can I do...?
Where did I fail... is it my fault they struggle...?
Look how far I am... from where I should be...

This attitude steals peace and joy... focuses only on what I still need to attain... and its root is pride...

The insidious nature of pride... it's not only found in the boasting... but anywhere eyes focus more on self... than on Him... self-pity... self-loathing... self-centeredness...

The reality is... I need nothing... and can do nothing... because in Him... by His grace... I have it all...

Pride looks to self... and its own involvement in salvation...

True humility... looks only to Him and the cross... thinks nothing of self...

Perverted pride... sees sin... as greater than His salvation...

True humility... receives conviction... asks forgiveness... steps back onto the narrow road (which just got a bit narrower)... and joyfully moves toward Him...

Herein lies the life free from the law of sin and death... and here is where the law of the Spirit of life is found...

There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.

Romans 8:1-2 ESV

The law... given to highlight sin... and the death it brings... 

...since through the law comes knowledge of sin.

Romans 3:20 ESV

To live under the law... is to live by the flesh...

...with my flesh I serve the law of sin.

Romans 7:25 ESV

Every time I move back under law... a veil comes between me... and Him... blinds me to His grace...

The law reveals our striving... to save self in our own strength...

Jesus came to fulfill the law... the only One who could... and set us free...

To walk with the Spirit... with no fear of breaking the law... is the law of life...

In Christ... we died too... and by faith... become free from the law of sin and death...

The only place to look is Him... pursue the Father through the Son by way of the Spirit... this is the law of life...

The enemy continually tries to draw us back under the law... because that is the place of sin and death... he does so through accusation... deceives us by using guilt... shame... reminding us of sin... failure... debts... tapping into deep areas of unbelief...

Beware... this trap... snare... that puts our eyes back on self... leads us away from Truth... and Life...

Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God, who made us sufficient to be ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.

2Corinthians 3:5-6 ESV

Getting glimpses... of the new me... and the power and presence of the Spirit... all around...

Warned... afresh... about the insidious nature of pride...

Where do you tend to be drawn to self... instead of Him...?

Could it be... pride...?