PRIDE DEFLATOR

 Luke 18:13, And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.

Luke 18:11-12, The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortionist, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. I fast twice in the week; I give tithes of all that I possess.

Isaiah 64:6, But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteous nesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.

Those who have acquired the mind of Christ through desires and seeking [for those who seek shall find] may have discovered that one thing that puts God off from us like other iniquities, is PRIDE. God hates pride and those who have appeared before him with a handbook of qualifications often go home empty. Cross check the opening Bible verses.  What we all must recollect is that Jesus Christ, the mighty God, would not have come if only one person was found qualified to stand before GOD as a saint; righteous and holy enough. Humility, before God, is one thing that God himself cannot resist. All those who humble themselves are always lifted. It is a spiritual principle that has endured till date.  The bible in Proverbs 6:16-17 These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, It is possible in our nature as humans not to be proud of our achievemenst and laurels?  Where many have ventured and failed woefully, surrounded by monumental failures, being a success story appears just too much for us not to stand tall and swim in pride. What? When most successes are the first in three generations. We have seen successes turns to pride in our neighborhood. The other day, news about an uber driver went viral in Nigeria, The driver has gone to do a pick up delivery; on getting to the house he calls the receiver by phone, to come get his order only for the recipient to unleash blows, slaps and name calling on him. His Crime was because he dared to ask the man to come get his delivery instead of taking it to the man inside his house. Only to say if the man makes any noise he can make him disappear. He later calls himself an senator of the federal republic of Nigeria. He threatened to lock him up in his generator room! Many were incensed for watching this recording play out before them, but is this not what obtains every day from those who thinks they have arrived and have to their credit a measure of achievement. Needless to say, it is a shame for any professed Christian to exhibit pride for whatever reason. Deuteronomy 8:2 And thou shalt remember all the way which the LORD thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments, or not. Read also 2 Chronicles 7:14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. Man, God created in his image was a proud creature, full of vanity and a tendency to oppress his fellowman.  Proverbs 29:23 A man’s pride shall bring him low: but honour shall uphold the humble in spirit.  Matthew 23:12 And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.James 4:6 But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. 1 Peter 5:6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: The way up is to go down then God will lift you up that no man can bring you down Perhaps, after all, there could be a reason for a man to be fill with pride; only one reason if he is able to beat this. Man who has conquered the world , did well in business  still has no reason to be proud till he is able to achieve this particularly exceptional fit; man have literally conquered the world through his inventions and daring achievements, in various field and endeavors. Should critics and antagonists take the pride from him? Is it fair not to allow him see himself as better than others? When he demands to be treated exceptional above others, does he deserve it? Should he not be allowed the space to wallow in his laurels and boast of them? I am persuaded that the society we live ascends to this demands, hence, we have VIPs in most public places, hotels, Airports, Airplanes , stadium etc. Do ushers, in our churches, not give special places and vantage positions to some people? With these kinds of treament, accolades not fuel pride in man? With so much for man to show pride and look down on others, there is one pride deflator for man. After all you will still answer the call of DEATH. Death is our pride deflator; man ought to know that despite his stride and progress in science arts and medicine he still have to comw to terms that one day he will succumb to the pangs and cold clutches of death. therefore, any one who must maintain pride must be able to conquer this monstrous taker of our life; mister DEATH.

But there is one person who qualifies to take this pride and boast and that is JESUS CHRIST. The only one among the religious leader who says he was God, the son of God, and boasted he will put down his life and take it back again in three days. Did he do it Did he succeed in conqueirng death? History is there to tell us about the empty tomb. whereras, the tomb of other founders are there with thier bones intact, but not Jesus who claims to be the son of God. Acts 2:24, Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it. Dear jesus take your place of pride and be boastful for you deserve it, but yet, he is the hublest man that ever struts the face of the earth. You are indeed worthy of our praise .And you are Lord of all.