The great master-scar of the soul!

(Thomas Brooks, “A Word in Season to Suffering Saints“)

Humility makes a man like an angel–but pride makes an angel, a devil! Pride is worse than the devil–for the devil cannot hurt you, until pride has possessed you. Proud souls are Satan’s apes, none imitate him to the life like these; for as face answers to face in a looking-glass, so does a proud soul answer to Satan! 

“I hate pride and arrogance!” Proverbs 8:13 

Take heed of pride and haughtiness of spirit. Pride is the great master-scar of the soul; it will bud and blossom–it cannot be hidden. Pride is the leprosy of the soul, which breaks forth in the very forehead! Pride is . . .

  the sum of all vileness,

  a sea of sin,

  a mother sin, 

  a breeding sin–

  a sin which has all sorts of sin in its womb!

In pride, all vices are wrapped up together in a bundle! 

Pride is Satan’s disease! It is so base a disease, that God would rather see His dearest children buffeted by Satan, than that in pride they should be like Satan (2 Corinthians 12:7). Pride is . . . 

  a gilded misery, 

  a secret poison, 

  a hidden plague, 

  the engineer of deceit, 

  the mother of hypocrisy, 

  the parent of misery, 

  the moth of holiness, 

  the blinder of hearts, 

  the turner of medicines into maladies. 

“The Lord detests all the proud of heart. Be sure of this: They will not go unpunished!” Proverbs 16:5

God will have nothing to do with proud people. 

He won’t come near such loathsome lepers!

Therefore as ever you would enjoy God’s presence,

  arm yourself against pride,

  watch against pride, and 

pray hard against pride!

Abba,

Guard our hearts against pride.  How insidious and crafty it is!  Pride’s greatest danger is the ability it possesses to convince us that we have no pride.  Keep us ever mindful of the dark tendrils of pride that creep and slither into the dark recesses of our soul unnoticed.  May we see ourselves in the full light of the scripture.  May the full darkness of our souls be laid bare in the brilliance of your holiness.  Only when we see our hearts for what they are apart from you, will be learn true and lasting humility.  Ever do I see the enticement and approach of pride in me.  By your grace, may we always see it before a stalwart foothold has been established.  By your grace, Abba, grant that we live in the true humility that is true of your nature.  And in that humility, let us find joy, peace, delight, and deep intimacy with you.

We love you, Abba!