I never wanted to be prideful, but it just came so easily to me.

Now, just to be clear, I’m not talking about the healthy type of pride that is key for maintaining a proper sense of confidence and morale. I’m talking about the unhealthy type of pride that overemphasizes your self-worth at the expense of the self-worth of another. I’m talking about the type of pride that drives one to believe that they are, in some way, inherently, “better” than someone else.

It came so easily to me to look down on those who didn’t have the financial resources, educational opportunities, and family structure that I had.

Scoffing at those who struggled with addiction, depression, and anxiety was second nature. Dismissing those without discipline, self-control, or drive was automatic. Being frustrated with people who didn’t “have it together” was the norm.

There’s no doubt about it, I was a prideful punk.

And then, I discovered the gospel.

I discovered good news which was only made better by the bad news that preceded it.

The bad news is, my inclination to turn my back on God through selfish behavior, sinful habits, and shameful thoughts, is deserving of God’s judgement and wrath. The bad news is, my propensity to fall short of God’s perfect standard has earned me eternal separation from God. The bad news is, my pride that I mentioned above is “cosmic treason” towards a holy and righteous God that must be punished.

And to make this bad news worse, there is no amount of good I can do to change this outcome. None.

The good news is, God did something good to change this outcome. The gospel declares that God gave, His one and only Son, Jesus Christ to live the life I could never live and die the death that I was supossed to die. The good news is, by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone, I can escape the wrath of God and enjoy perfect intimacy with my Heavenly Father.

But just in case you missed it, what makes this work of salvation possible is GOD, by GRACE, through FAITH, in CHRIST.

My name appears nowhere in that equation.

There is just no room for pride. As the old saying goes, “The ground is level at the foot of the cross.” I need God’s grace to rescue me from the same amount of sin as the least “put together” person that I have ever pridefully judged - all of it.

And it is when this truth sinks into our hearts, that only one thing should seep out of our lives…humility.