Jorge and his entire family were devoted Christians to the church. I still recall the calm and welcoming demeanor of his parents and their love for Christ. Following in his father’s footsteps, Jorge decided to serve in ministry by leading the youth ministry. In addition to this, he was raising his own expanding family and holding a full-time job.
I still recall the dedicated days, months, and years he gave of himself. Whether it was organizing a weekend retreat, teaching Wednesday and Sunday bible study, or serving in different capacities throughout the church, he gave his all. He was always trying to do his best to befriend us all to draw us closer to God. Looking back, unfortunately, other teens and I didn’t appreciate his love for us.
One day during a Wednesday bible study, we were rude and loud. We were cracking jokes, not paying attention, and instigating trouble. Jorge, an ex-football player with a commanding presence, kept trying to address the smart remarks peacefully but grew increasingly frustrated. Insensitive to the situation, I gave a sarcastic answer to his question. He responded, “Well if you’d spend as much time studying as you do giving stupid responses, you’d be able to give an appropriate answer.”
Everyone laughed, and I was livid. Immediately after I shut down and didn’t say a peep for the rest evening, all I could think about was how Jorge could have embarrassed me in front of everyone. Shortly after class, he came up to me and apologized and explained the reason for his apology.
At that moment, I realized I was the one who should have been apologizing. I was disrespectful and did not give this godly man the respect he deserved. I also apologized and never interrupted his class again.
This story reminds me of how pride can easily sneak up on all of us. Without realizing it, we could be wrong and fail to admit it. Only when confronted by sincere humility and willingness to accept our fault, can we begin to remove pride from our lives and replace it with humility.
Daily Directive:
Answer and Journal the Following
Read:
Read and meditate on Philippians 2:7-9.
Pray:
How do you handle pride when it sneaks up on you? Be real; be honest.
Meditate / Make It Real:
Pray and ask God to search your heart and confess your pride. Also create a plan on how you will address pride when it comes up. Be specific.
Share / Show:
Share this with a fellow brother and have them hold you accountable.
