Last Sunday at The Way we looked at Isaiah 2 and considered God’s warning against spiritual pride.
“Human pride will be humbled, and the loftiness of men will be brought low; the Lord alone will be exalted on that day. For a day belonging to the Lord of Hosts is coming against all that is proud and lofty, against all that is lifted up—it will be humbled.” [2:11-12 HCSB]
God looks with great kindness and compassion on those who are humble and contrite, but He will not share His throne or glory with the proud. It never goes well for people who harbor spiritual pride.
Yet, spiritual pride is something the church must battle continually, both corporately and as individuals. It is something we must be diligent to root out of our midst by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Jonathan Edwards wrote, “The first and worst cause of errors that abound in our day and age is spiritual pride. This is the main door by which the devil comes into the hearts of those who are zealous for the advancement of Christ.” (Undetected Spiritual Pride, One Cause of Failure in Times of Great Revival*)
Edwards in his essay lists seven subtle symptoms of spiritual pride that we must be aware of, for when pride enters the Church, we incur God’s disfavor and judgment will soon follow.
We would do well to pray every day that God would highlight any seed of pride trying to take root in us. “Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my concerns. See if there is any offensive way in me; lead me in the everlasting way.” [Psalm 139:23-24 HCSB]
* https://www.ccel.org/ccel/edwards/works1.ix.v.i.html
