Our Pride Leads Us to Sin
Thursday’s Verse:
From Proverbs 21:4 NIV
“Haughty eyes and a proud heart— the unplowed field of the wicked—produce sin.”
Sin does not start with our actions; it starts with our hearts. Pride pulls our eyes away from God and toward ourselves. We believe we know best. We rationalize our wants. We trust in our own wisdom. Out of that proud heart come the sins that we see manifested in our words and actions. Even our good deeds are filthy with self-focus if they are fueled by pride.
This is what God’s Law reveals to us so that we would no longer attempt to excuse ourselves. We sin not because something made us do it, but because our hearts are bent toward ourselves. We cannot humble ourselves before God and clean ourselves of our guilt if we are left to ourselves.
Thankfully, God does not leave us there. As sin came through pride, forgiveness comes through Christ. Jesus humbled Himself even to death on a cross for proud hearts like ours. By His death and resurrection, God justifies sinners. He pours out forgiveness freely. It is not based on how much we repent, try, or get better. It is by His grace alone, through faith alone.
In Christ, we are forgiven and given a new heart. Though pride continues to wage war on us in this life, we live each day empowered by the mercy of our Savior, whom we trust rather than ourselves.
✝️ A Prayer for Today:
Lord, humble our proud hearts and forgive us of our sins for Jesus’ sake. May our eyes be lifted to Him alone. Amen.
Apostles’ Creed:
I believe in God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth.
And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried. He descended into hell. The third day He rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty. From thence He will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Christian Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.
The Lord’s Prayer:
Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name, Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven; give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever. Amen.
Luther’s Morning Prayer:
I thank You, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, Your dear Son, that You have kept me this night from all harm and danger; and I pray that You would keep me this day also from sin and every evil, that all my doings and life may please You. For into Your hands, I commend myself, my body and soul, and all things. Let Your holy angel be with me, that the evil foe may have no power over me. Amen.
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