TUESDAY'S THOUGHTS: KEEP IT REAL, PRUNE THE PRIDE...

GALATIANS 6: 3-5...
1/ Brethren, even if anyone is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, so that you too will not be tempted. 
2/ Bear one another’s burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ.
3/ For if anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself.
4/ But each one must examine his own work, and then he will have reason for boasting in regard to himself alone, and not in regard to another. 
5/ For each one will bear his own load.

We are to bear one another's burdens. So we shall fulfil the law of Christ. This obliges to mutual forbearance and compassion towards each other, agreeably to his example. It becomes us to bear one another's burdens, as fellow-travellers. 

It is very common for a man to look upon himself as wiser and better than other men, and as fit to dictate to them. Such a one deceives himself; by pretending to what he has not, he puts a cheat upon himself, and sooner or later will find the sad effects. This will never gain esteem, either with God or men. 

Every one is advised to prove his own work. The better we know our own hearts and ways, the less shall we despise others, and the more be disposed to help them under infirmities and afflictions. 

How light soever men's sins seem to them when committed, yet they will be found a heavy burden, when they come to reckon with God about them. No man can pay a ransom for his brother; and sin is a burden to the soul. It is a spiritual burden; and the less a man feels it to be such, the more cause has he to suspect himself. Most men are dead in their sins, and therefore have no sight or sense of the spiritual burden of sin. Feeling the weight and burden of our sins, we must seek to be eased thereof by the Saviour, and be warned against every sin.

For if a man think himself to be something,.... Of himself; to have anything of himself, to do anything of himself, and of himself to attain to life and salvation: 

when he is nothing: of himself; not even as a creature, but owes his being and preservation, and all the mercies of life, to another, even to God; has no grace nor gifts of himself, but what he has received, and can do no good thing, not think a good thought, or perform a good action, of himself, and much less of himself procure eternal life and salvation: 

he deceiveth himself: and will find himself sadly mistaken, and wretchedly disappointed another day; or whoever thinks himself to be some famous and excellent person, to be something more, and better than others, of a more excellent nature, and of greater abilities, that he is free from sin, or at least holier than others, and not liable to fall as others, whom he looks upon with disdain and contempt, wanting that charity which the law, and new commandment of Christ, requires, when he is nothing but sin and vanity, he is destitute of the grace of God, he deceives himself and the truth is not in him. This the apostle says to depress pride, and a swelling conceit of themselves, and all uncharitable, rough, and severe usages of others.

Pride IS a perpetual enemy, because in pride, there are MANY layers, many levels, most of which we never consider in the course of a day, UNLESS we are trained to notice our character, and behaviours at any given time! Thus, it is CONSTANT work to overtake, and overcome the TENDENCY to react with pride, which even includes our reactionary process, such as when our pride is hurt, and so forth! Pride is effectual, and affectual!  In the course of a *GOD* given day, pride WILL be shown, and so, it is wise to follow THE LORD'S advice when it comes to such matters, and LEARN the core of such instruction, THAT we KNOW our place, and CAN go forth in understanding of HUMILITY, LOVE, CHARITY, and then, void of the rush to judge others, even as they judge us! Pride has DEEP roots in our beings, and it takes GREAT care to rid of them, so with *GOD*, raised PRAYER, and understanding, consider it one of those daily crosses to bear!!!