Wash Away Pride with the Joy Juice of Jesus

           Have you had your JOY JUICE today?   If so….I’m proud of you!!

            It’s nice to hear the words “I’m proud of you!” isn’t it? Especially, when they come from someone we love and admire.  Children especially need to hear these encouraging words from their parents and teachers.  And in this sense of the word, pride is good!

 But often we get snared in the trap of sinful pride.  P-R-I-D-E; in the very center is the letter “I”.  How appropriate! You see, the meaning of sinful pride is preoccupation with self!

In Proverbs 6:16-19 we read:   "These six things the Lord hates, yes, seven are an abomination to Him: A proud look, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that are swift in running to evil, a false witness who speaks lies, and one who sows discord among brethren."

The number one thing on this list of sins God hates is the sin of pride. Let’s remember that :

·         Pride is the sin that led Israel to reject all the prophets that God sent to warn them of their evil ways.

·         Pride is the sin that caused the Pharisees to reject Jesus.

·         Pride is the sin of the church of Laodicea that led to their incredible blindness.

Are we so different from those prideful people we read about in the Bible?

Let's remember the importance of keeping the JOY JUICE of Jesus within easy reach!  We never know when we might need to wash away a prideful thought or word and replace them with joy in Jesus!