Among the many trials a Christian faces, and perhaps one of the most difficult, is having to admit that he is wrong. Honestly examining our actions or words, in the face of open rebuke, is a trial that the Hebrew writer referred to as "grievous."

"Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised (trained) thereby." (Hebrews 12:11)

We also take note of other important scriptures found in the same chapter and context: "My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of Him: for whom the Lord loveth He chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom He receiveth." (Hebrews 12:6-7)

Whether it's family (or family to be), a brother or sister in Christ, or perhaps even one in the world, when someone rebukes us, we have difficulty remembering that ultimately, our Heavenly Father is manifesting His Love toward us. One writer put it: "Love can only be known from the actions it prompts." This is, of course, a two-way street, for if we love God, we will heed His chastening.

Unfortunately, as is too often the case with me, we react to such love with anger. Consider Naaman. Naaman was not confronted with sin, but he was confronted with truth, at which he became very angry. But the lesson we learn from Naaman is that he humbled himself. He was led to examine himself, and thus to the cleansing he so desired and needed. God's children also need cleansing, the cleansing of their souls. That is why they were baptized. But baptism doesn't guarantee that we'll never again sin. Thus, it is written, "If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to, cleanse us from all unrighteousness." (1 John 1:8-9)

Consider the life of King David (a man after God's own heart). His life story is Divinely preserved so that we might learn from his examples--both good and bad. Though he was king, he was subject to the temptations that assail all men, and he succumbed-thus sinning. When Nathan confronted (in the form of a parable) David with his sin, David, oblivious to the fact that he was the man in the parable, became angry at the sin he perceived to be another's. What was his judgment in the matter? "As the Lord liveth, the man that hath done this thing shall surely die." (2 Samuel 12:5) We are truly blessed that God, and not man, will be our Judge (cf. Romans 8:34).

"And Nathan said to David, thou art the man." (2 Samuel 12:7) Then David responded. "And David said unto Nathan, I have sinned against the Lord. And Nathan said unto David, the Lord also hath put away thy sin; thou shalt not die." (2 Samuel 12:13) David's sin had severe consequences, as does all sin, and as the succeeding verses and chapters reveal, but he exhibited the type of humility that today's Christians so desperately need, that they may be children after the Father's own heart.

But one of the hardest obstacles a Christian can face is his own sinful pride. Pride is: "A sense of one's own proper dignity or value; an excessively high opinion of oneself; conceit; arrogance." (AHD). If David had been a proud king who took pride in the fact that he had gotten by with what he thought no one else knew, God's word destroyed his pride. "Is not My word like as a fire, saith the Lord; and like a hammer that breaketh the rock, in pieces?" (Jeremiah 23:29) Read David's psalm that portrays his Godly humility (Psalm 51).

Is one's pride worth the loss of His soul? For some it is; for because of pride, they refuse to confess their wrongs as David did, though they are aware of them. It is well known that: "Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall." (Proverbs 16:18)

It is also written, "A man's pride shall bring him low: but honor shall uphold the humble in spirit." (Proverbs 29:23) The highest of men, and the lowest of men, have been brought down and destroyed because of pride. Note the examples that we can read, study, and learn from concerning Nebuchadnezzar and his son (Daniel 4-5). Christians are no less susceptible to this awful sin.

To conquer pride, exhibit humility, a humble heart, and love for God. It is these very qualities that enable Christians to confess their wrongs. "... and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time: casting all your care upon Him; for He careth for you." (1 Peter 5:5-7)

If we love one another as God loves us, if a brother needs rebuke we will do it in the "spirit of meekness," as is written in Galatians 6:1-2. It is also written,

"Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitfu1." (Proverbs 27:6)

"Open rebuke is better than secret love." (Proverbs 27:5)

"It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise, than for a man to hear the song of fools." (Ecc1esiastes 7:5)

Far too often I have found myself not hearing what others were saying. Because of blind pride and anger, I had become deaf. I have been so blessed, though, to have brethren who loved me enough to use the Sword of the Spirit to break my pride into pieces so that God's word could pierce my heart. Those who have humble hearts will confess their wrongs and offer true repentance. "For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death." (2 Corinthians 7:10) Tears of godly sorrow are a humbled spirit's weeping-an aching soul's cleansing. The goal of those who are truly seeking Heaven is to bring down pride, anger, or anything else that threatens to lead them astray.

Paul, after having been an enemy of Christ, wrote of his Heavenly goal; "Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 3:13-14)

If we fall, we must be humble enough to allow God to lift us up. We cannot change the past; nor should we dwell on it, but we do need to learn from it. Life is full of trials, and one of the most severe can be the trial of learning to be humble and confess our wrongs. One so tried, if he overcomes, will become a worthy vessel to serve in God's kingdom.

"Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, the Lord knoweth them that are His. And, Let everyone that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity. ... If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the Master's use, and prepared unto every good work." (2 Timothy 2:19,21) Let us ever stand for truth, and when we fall, let us "confess (our) faults one to another, and pray one for another, that (we) may be healed." (James 5:16)

"... Verily I say unto you, except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the Kingdom of Heaven. Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven." (Matthew 18:3-4)