When we look at people who take pride in their achievements and accomplishments, our God-given discernment can help us see past the surface images the world admires. There’s nothing wrong with achieving and accomplishing things, but the world’s motives are often different than those of believers. Proudly seeking fame and fortune for one’s own glory seems to be the accepted mindset around us. Relying on our self-effortsprevents us from depending solely on God’s grace; we must be careful to rely on what Jesus did more than on what we do.

God wants to show us favor, but He can’t do so if we let pride block His blessings. We show true humility when we move out of our self-centeredness and believe in the power of what Jesus accomplished on the cross. By putting Him in the center of our lives instead of ourselves, we begin to see amazing things happen. This is how we move from living under the Law of Moses to living under grace.

It’s easy to slide back into self-effort, especially when we see so many others depending on what they can do for themselves;but when we have the wisdom to step back and look at the big picture, we see that what looks dazzling and bright by the world’s standards doesn’t last. We can waste years of our lives spinning our wheels trying to make something happen only to see zero results. God wants us to do great things; when we seek His counsel, He empowers us to do so.

Prayer:

Lord, You saved us from our own pride and self-efforts.Your grace offers us an escape from the requirements of the law that religion teaches, and we’re thankful for that. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Scriptures:

Romans 4:1-5

Galatians 3:1

John 1:17

James 1:5

Proverbs 3:13, 21, 23, 26

For more on how to trust in God more than in ourselves, click on the link for the two-message series, Living a Life of Faith.