Pride is a terrible and mighty beast. It creeps up on us and entices us by leading us to think more of ourselves than we ought. We begin to take undue pride in our work and accomplishments and believe that we have caused our success, that good has come to us because we have done it, we have worked hard, or because we are smart. We don’t give glory to God or consider that the success we have enjoyed is from His hand and for His purposes. Pride can also work the exact opposite direction. It is quite prideful to think that you are worse than others, that your sin is more egregious than others, that your suffering is unique and no one could possibly understand how bad it is for you. In both cases, pride overcomes us and causes us to focus on ourselves and to either trust in ourselves and not need God or despair and believe that we are too bad even for God. Both are evil and for both we need to repent and stand before God, seeking His mercy in Christ. Pride must be crushed and we must stand before God in humility because He is all things, He is the source of our every good, and His mercy reacheth unto the heavens. I look forward to standing with you before the Lord to receive His abundant mercy and to proclaim His mercy to you this coming Lord’s Day.
Pastor Ulmer