Do not say in your [mind and] heart…It is because of my righteousness that the Lord has brought me in to possess this land—whereas it is because of the wickedness of these nations that the Lord is dispossessing them before you…you are a hard and stubborn people. – Deuteronomy 9:4, 6, Amplified Bible (AMP)

One of the most memorable television commercials of my youth advertised the candy we know as “Tootsie Roll Pops.” The commercial was animated, and in the commercial there was a boy who pondered the deep, dark question, “How many licks does it take to get to the center of a Tootsie Roll Pop?” In order to solve this great mystery, the boy consulted several animals – a cow, a fox, and a turtle – before finally being referred to the wisest animal of the bunch, Mr. Owl. Wise Mr. Owl, sporting a graduation cap and a rather large pair of spectacles, snatches the boy’s Tootsie Roll Pop, takes three licks, crunches down on the candy, and tells the boy, “Three.” After the owl hands the empty candy stick back to the sad lad, the voice of the announcer is heard saying, “How many licks does it take to get to the center of a Tootsie Roll Pop? The world may never know.”

Just like the world may never know the answer to this question, we may never know the answer to another question: “How deep do the rivers of pride flow through our veins?” The more mature we grow in The Lord, the more He shows us hidden layers of pride that we never knew were there. It’s a painful experience, being exposed time and time again for just how arrogant we are. But the pain is needful. God must regularly rip layer upon layer of pride from our character, for as long as we harbor pride, we cannot have deep fellowship with Him. The more humble we become, the sweeter our relationship with God will become, and the more effective we can be for Him while we remain on this Earth.

Just like the Israelites, we are a hard and stubborn people, and our righteousnesses are as filthy rags. As a result, we have never earned God’s blessings because of who we are or because of what we have done. We only possess God’s blessings because of who He is: our Father, full of mercy and grace. If and when we forget this truth, pride will swell in our hearts, and then we will receive another lick from the Holy Spirit reminding us who we really are – sinners, saved by grace!

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