Prideful Reasoning

I'm Prideful.

It's not something I'm proud of (ironic, eh?).

I never thought that the Christmas season would bring out the pride in me.  But I realized tonight that it does, in a very subtle, probably mostly hidden way (as in, most people don't recognize it).  But tonight I caught a glimpse of it and it's not exactly pretty.

I believe it's important to remind ourselves of the "reason for the season" and to keep the "Christ" in "Christmas".  If you take Him out of it, there's no reason to celebrate (except for self-centered reasons).  So it's good to be reminded and to speak about it.  I'm thankful for all the reminders I get.

But in church recently (and outside of church, too), I've been hearing and discussing a lot of the fundamentals and foundations of the faith.  How can I be saved? What does it mean to be a Christian?  How do I know I am saved?

It's been a really good month of hearing the Gospel over and over and having it preached to me. But what keeps sticking out to me is this: 

It's all God. 

God convicts of sin.

God brings me to life and opens my eyes to see His glory.

God (the Spirit) moves within me.

God gives me the gift of faith.

God forgives my sin and gives me an eternal inheritance.

It's not my strength, power, talents, gifts, hard work.

And I know this. I do.

But it's so easy to live like it's something I did to save myself.

And I realized tonight that as I remind myself of the reason for the season, I pat myself on the back, 'proud' of myself that I'm "getting it right" and understanding the truth of why we celebrate.

And I am glad that I know the truth.  But it's not because of me.  That fact that I know the truth doesn't mean I should pat myself on the back.  It means I should fall on my face in gratitude for the grace of God which has so mercifully brought me into the Kingdom of Light.

So that is my prayer this Christmas, for me and anyone else who  "gets" it.  To look at our Savior, humbled as He was to be brought into this world in frail human form, and long for that humility.  To be grateful for the knowledge of who God is and be reminded that it is all about Christ. 

"And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross." [Philippians 2:8]