Self Sins - You Know What I'm Talking About

"Self-sins are self-righteousness, self-pity, self-confidence, self sufficiency, self-admiration, self-love, and a host of others like them. They dwell too deep within us and are too much a part of our natures to come to our attention till the light of God is focused upon them. The grosser manifestations of these sins--egotism, exhibitionism, self-promotion---are strangely tolerated by Christian leaders...They are so much in evidence as actually, for many people, to become identified with the gospel. I trust it is not a cynical observation to say that they appear these days to be a requisite for popularity in some sections of the church visible. Promoting self under the guise of promoting Christ is currently so common as to excite little notice."
The Pursuit of God, A. W. Tozer, pg. 43

As a pastor this is a hard read. It is easy to start promoting me or my church over Christ. It takes work to keep the focus where it needs to be. Lord forgive me for looking at me too much. I have noticed my stress level is much higher when the focus is on me. I know better. I don't try to put it on me. One good pat on the back or even a "this is not going the way I expected" is a very slippery slope.

What is up with my short-term memory? The focus can change several times in a day or even during one conversation.

What about you? I think it is easier to see this in the life of a pastor. How does this look in the life of the Apprentice walking his or her walk as a white collar, blue collar, or homemaker.

There is only one way to know. Let the light shine into the dark. And then work to stay in the light.

Thanks for listening to a many times tripping apprentice
Royal