Love Is Not Proud

^“4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. ⁵ It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. ⁶ Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. ⁷ It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.⁸ Love never fails.”  I Cor. 13:4-8a NIV

Boasting and pride is not God’s way.  He does not hold His lofty position over us to make us feel subservient or small.  Phil. 2:7-9 reminds us that Jesus gave up His divine privileges and took the humble position of a servant when He was born a human.  Even more, He humbled Himself to die a criminal’s death on the cross to redeem us from slavery to sin and death. This made a way for us to join Him as a child of God with a divine inheritance!

Pride is thinking more highly of ourselves than we should.  The prideful believe they can do things best on their own. They are often abrasive and rude, considering others inferior. God is never like that.

Seated With Christ

In a beautiful example of humility, Jesus He washed His disciples’ feet. They should have been serving Him. But He took the role of servant, once again laying down His lofty position to serve others. 

Jesus, who had every reason to boast about His greatness, remained humble in heart. He continues to deal gently with us, not abrasively or rudely. He welcomes us with open arms.  And Ephesians 2:6 tells us, “And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus.”

Instead of pushing us down as inferior, He raises us up and seats us with Him in the Spirit!

Read Consider the Breadth of God’s Love for more!