How can Acts 10:26 guide us in resisting the temptation of pride? The verse Acts 10:26: “But Peter helped him up. ‘Stand up!’ he said. ‘I am only a man myself.’” What Peter Shows Us about Pride - Immediate rejection of undue honor - Clear confession of shared humanity - Quick redirection of glory away from himself and implicitly toward God Why This Matters Today - Pride begins when we accept honor meant for God (Isaiah 42:8) - Remembering our creaturely limits keeps us in truth (Psalm 103:14) - Humility invites God’s favor; pride invites His opposition (James 4:6) Practical Ways to Follow Peter’s Example - • Keep the spotlight on Christ • When praised, verbally acknowledge God’s grace (1 Corinthians 15:10) • Serve quietly where applause is unlikely (Matthew 6:1–4) • Celebrate others’ contributions instead of your own (Romans 12:10) - • Cultivate a daily awareness of dependence • Begin each day recalling that breath, strength, and gifts come from the Lord (Acts 17:25) • Regularly thank Him aloud; gratitude crowds out self-glory (Colossians 3:17) - • Measure success by faithfulness, not recognition • Peter’s mission continued unaltered by either criticism or admiration (Galatians 1:10) • Evaluate progress with Scripture’s standards, not public acclaim (Micah 6:8) Guardrails against Rising Pride - Invite accountability from trustworthy believers (Proverbs 27:17) - Memorize verses that expose boastful thinking (Proverbs 16:18; 1 Peter 5:6) - Confess pride promptly when the Spirit convicts (1 John 1:9) Encouraging Result When we echo Peter’s words—“I am only a man myself”—we stay grounded, keep God central, and find the joy that comes from walking humbly with our Lord. |
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