Pride and Individuality

24Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 25For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it.

~Matthew 16: 24-25

It seems pride and individuality go hand in hand in my life. Every time I catch myself thinking of myself as a different sort, or too much of a non-servant leader, my prideful ways become almost disgusting. These are the times I am most likely to curse in laughing camaraderie, jest on someone else's behalf, pass a tasty bit of gossip, or perhaps let my eyes linger longer than they ought.

Since the time of Adam, we've struggled to understand our right place as one of the created and not the Creator. What a simple root of so much sin.

Lord, every day that I might love you more than myself.