With two days left until our repentance service, we find ourselves needing to address the same issue as we did on day two – pride. Namely, religious pride. We do not want to whip ourselves up into an outward fervor for God, while internally we are only focused on ourselves and “serving” the Lord for selfish and self-serving reasons.
Proverbs 16:18 Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.
The number thirteen is an interesting number. It is the number for religion, man’s attempt to get to God his/her own way. It is the sum of 6 (the number of men) and 7 (the number of completion, order, wholeness).
Isaiah 6:1 In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord…
King Uzziah wanted to offer incense to God. He wasn’t worshipping the devil, Baal, or Molech. The problem was that he was a king and not a priest. You CANNOT accomplish God’s will your own way, or by your own efforts.
There is a difference between being “spiritual” and being godly. Spirituality covers a wide range of activities, from “putting it out into the universe” to conjuring demons. It’s all very spiritual, but God never said to do this. To be godly means we are doing His will, His way, by His Grace, for His Kingdom, through His blood, and by His Spirit. We have our part to play, but the focus is on Him, not us.
The easiest way to spot religious pride is to answer the question, “Is this being done out of obedience to God, submission to His authority, and love for Him and others, or is this being done out of selfish motives?” Religious pride will try to do God’s will its own way. David tried that with the Ark of the Covenant, and his friend, Uzzah, died as a result.
Lord, I love You. Thank You for today. I need You. I ask forgiveness for my pride and rebellion against You. I also ask forgiveness for my religious pride – when I was spiritual but ungodly. Help me to humble myself and to get into alignment with You. Purify my heart and mind that I may see You and know You more. Give me the endurance to keep going, and to be pleasing to You in my actions and motives. Try me and know me, see if there is any wicked way in me. Cleanse me, that I may love and obey You and see You move in and around my life. Amen.