Need for Redemption

We’ve all heard it before: pride is the root cause of all sin. Before we knock that off as cliché in our minds, let’s consider that root. The reason why Satan is no longer a ruler with God is because of pride. Pride was the root of his falling because he thought he could do better than God. Therefore, when he spoke the poison of pride in Eve’s ear and she fell into the temptation to become like God, the poisonous pride seeped through every fiber of humanity as her offspring. Humility, naturally, is the opposite of pride. It is pride that made redemption needful.

But how often do we overlook the need for redemption, because we don’t understand the true depths of pride? Pride originated with Satan and therefore while we must confess our pride it is also imperative to understand that there is a supernatural force surging pride through our beings. Therefore, we can’t fight it on our own…we need the redemption of the One who deserves our total dependence.

It is in the root of Christ’s humility that we need to stand and grow, not the root of pride.

“If this be the root of the tree, its nature must be seen in every branch and leaf and fruit. If humility be the first, the all-including grace of the life of Jesus—if humility be the secret of his atonement—thent he health and strength of our spiritual life will entirely depend upon our putting this grace first too, and making humility the chief thing we admire in him, the chief thing we ask of him, the one thing for which we sacrifice all else…until such a humility be what we seek in Christ above our chief joy, and welcome at any price, there is very little hope of a religion that will conquer the world.” (Murray, p. 11-12)

To finish off, I’m reminded of the song, “Empty Me” by Chris Sligh: “Empty me of the selfishness inside, every vain ambition and the poison of my pride. And any foolish thing my heart holds to. Lord empty me of me so I can be filled with You.”