Pride camouflages itself with excuses, justifications, and self-deception. Pride is the unknown blinding element that makes examining one’s self impossible, for it is written, “But let a man examine himself...” (1Cor 11:28). However, the scriptures (vs. 31, 32) go on to say, “For if we would judge ourselves we should not be judged (vs. 31). “But when we are judged, we are chastened by the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world” (vs. 32). Pride prevents that self examination, hence, no self-judgment. We acknowledge things about ourselves that we see, good and bad, but that is only as for as we can see. We look at ourselves actually from the outside, for it is written, “For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? Even so the things of God knoweth no man but the Spirit of God” (1Cor 2:11). For we know that only God searches the hearts, for it is written as David told Solomon his son, “And thou, Solomon my son, know thou the God of thy father, and serve him with a perfect heart and a willing mind: for the Lord searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts, if thou seek Him, He will be found of thee: but if thou forsake Him, He will cast thee off forever” (1Chr 28:9). Since God does search the hearts, He knows things about us we are unable to know. Since we do not see ourselves as God sees us, we need God to show us to ourselves so we can judge ourselves accordingly. Examining ourselves may point out our shortcomings but pride prevents us from judging what we see righteously. Pride keeps us from yielding to God, admitting when we are wrong, and acknowledging what the Lard is showing to us about ourselves. Pride will not let you see how selfish you really are. Pride will not let you say, “I’m sorry” without an explanation. Pride requires a detailed explanation for every mistake, oversight, or bad judgment call you make. The only weapon of pride is the sense of embarrassment. Pride is of the flesh. Pride prevents you from receiving revelation knowledge. Pride prevents you from discerning your own spirit. Pride brings on contention, for it is written, “Only by pride cometh contention, but with the well advised is wisdom” (Prov 13:10). Moreover, with no personal discernment, the contentious (argumentative) spirit is not discerned. Generally, if a person knows he has a little pride, he is only seeing the tip, for pride usually runs much deeper and broader and must be addressed at the source. However, “For all those things hath mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the Lord, but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor, and of a contrite spirit and trembleth at my word” (Is 66:2). Pride is the wall that keeps you from having the closeness that you could have with God. But the true closeness that the Lord desires cannot be attained if we won’t swallow our pride and stand before Him naked with all our faults, shortcomings, weaknesses, without the coverings of pride and self-justifications and in no way will He turn you out. Ask the Lord to take you back to the foot of the cross where you first began, when you first came to Him, when there was no pride, not conceit, no great office or work. What changed!?! He didn’t!!! - -“For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabited eternity, whose name is Holy: I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones” (Is 57:15).
