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I have learned more in 4 years here on FR about Western, non-Latin Christianity than in all the rest of my life. Much stands out, but I think the rejection of a sense of abiding humility is what strikes me the most.

I have no pride in my own words, thoughts or deeds. That is why I use them sparingly to present the words of God.

Whatever boasting may be in my posts should be of God not man and certainly not me:

But thou hast saved us from our enemies, and hast put them to shame that hated us. In God we boast all the day long, and praise thy name for ever. Selah. - Psalms 44:7-8

Indeed, when I present my own thoughts in a religious discussion I qualify them as my own "musings." And I often admonish people who compliment me personally for anything good they perceive in my posts: "give God the glory!" Without Him, we can do nothing.

I am the vine, ye [are] the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. - John 15:5

Indeed my spiritual goal is to be transparent in Him, so that His Light will shine unobstructed by me.

For thou wilt light my candle: the LORD my God will enlighten my darkness. - Psalms 18:28

Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. – Matthew 5:14-16

For ye were sometimes darkness, but now [are ye] light in the Lord: walk as children of light: - Ephesians 5:8

The gemstones of the foundation of the New Jerusalem are also metaphors:

And the foundations of the wall of the city [were] garnished with all manner of precious stones. The first foundation [was] jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, a chalcedony; the fourth, an emerald; The fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolite; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, a topaz; the tenth, a chrysoprasus; the eleventh, a jacinth; the twelfth, an amethyst. – Revelation 21:19-20

Colors are indeed beautiful. But my prayer is to tint the Light of God as little as possible. As hosepipe has noted before, a pure diamond dropped in clean water cannot be seen at all. I'm shooting to be a diamond in His Light, but will likely end up an amethyst. LOL!

I very strongly agree that pride is an abomination to God – it is our biggest obstacle in loving God surpassingly above all else – the one and only Great Commandment.

Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. – Matthew 22:37-38

Truly, pride is at the root of our difficulty in keeping the one and only great commandment – and it is at the root of all kinds of sin across the board.

Does any Christian really believe the proud ("what's in it for me?") have any part in the new heaven and new earth?

Pride is a symptom of a reprobate mind and is an abomination to God:

These six [things] doth the LORD hate: yea, seven [are] an abomination unto him: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, A false witness [that] speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren. – Proverbs 6:16-19

The LORD hath made all [things] for himself: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil. Every one [that is] proud in heart [is] an abomination to the LORD: [though] hand [join] in hand, he shall not be unpunished. By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the LORD [men] depart from evil. – Proverbs 16:4-6

The fear of the LORD [is] to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate. – Proverbs 8:13

And he said, That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man. For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: All these evil things come from within, and defile the man. – Mark 7:20-23

Consider how deeply fundamental the sin of pride is.

And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil. And when the woman saw that the tree [was] good for food, and that it [was] pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make [one] wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat. – Genesis 3:4-6

Thou [wast] perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee. By the multitude of thy merchandise they have filled the midst of thee with violence, and thou hast sinned: therefore I will cast thee as profane out of the mountain of God: and I will destroy thee, O covering cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire. Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty, thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness: I will cast thee to the ground, I will lay thee before kings, that they may behold thee. – Ezekiel 28:15-17

Does not pride rest at the very root of the most obvious sins? Murder, theft, adultery, disobedience, rebellion?

And does it not also rest at the very root of the sins we barely notice? Want, complaint, anxiety, worry, jealousy, disbelief?

And is it not the very reason people withhold mercy from one another – or judge one another?

At the moment God’s adopted children realize Who He is – there can be no pride, there is nothing but abject spiritual humility in the presence of His glory.

Consider Paul who had every reason for pride in his day but he lost all of it on the road to Damascus when he was touched by the power of God:

For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh. Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more: Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, [of] the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee; Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.

But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea doubtless, and I count all things [but] loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them [but] dung, that I may win Christ, And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.

Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. 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. Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you. Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing. – Philippians 3:3-16

Thus we “deny ourselves” and thus we are “dead and our lives are hid with Christ in God.” And thus, counting ourselves dead and forsaking all else – we love Him surpassingly above all else, trusting Him to live through us:

For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. – Colossians 3:3

I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. – Galatians 2:20

If any [man] come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.

For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have [sufficient] to finish [it]? Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish [it], all that behold [it] begin to mock him, Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish. Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand? Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and desireth conditions of peace.

So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple. – Luke 14:26-33

Paul’s “thorn in the flesh” is an example to all of us who struggle with pride. When we need help, God prunes us.

And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. – 2 Corinthians 12:7

I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every [branch] that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye [are] the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. - John 15:1-5

It is a Spiritual Truth that nothing happens in the life of one of God’s children unless either He permits it or does it.

We must focus on God. Sit at His feet and hear His words, like Mary. It is the needful part. Believe Him. Trust Him.

Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus' feet, and heard his word.

But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me.

And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her. – Luke 10:38-42

Love God surpassingly above all else - and that includes self, spouse, children, etc. - any thing or any one.

To God be the glory, not man, never man.

AMEN! AMEN! AMEN!

A blessed Lord’s Day sermon.

Thx.

The gemstones of the foundation of the New Jerusalem are also metaphors: / "And the foundations of the wall of the city [were] garnished with all manner of precious stones. The first foundation [was] jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, a chalcedony; the fourth, an emerald; The fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolite; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, a topaz; the tenth, a chrysoprasus; the eleventh, a jacinth; the twelfth, an amethyst. – Revelation 21:19-20"
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I indeed, dear sister, I love to watch the Jewerly Channel on cable for entirely different reans then buying anything.. i GEMS are displayed in all their shining glory.. ALL kinds of gems.. with glowing phrases about them.. and displayed in theor best light and settings..

I buy nothing but consider "the METAPHOR", you know, the biblical metaphors.. about precious stones.. Display quite beatifully(to me) on threads such as this.. The Roman Catholics, Eastern Orthodox, Calvinists and all mannar of different "christians".. and even NoN christians sharing their "views".. While "observing" that jewerly show my mind wanders to New Jerusalem.. new in quality and experience thast I hope to experience one day.. The metaphore (of precious stones/ saints/ sheep) becomes a little more tangible t me..

Precious stones are precious to those that they are precious to.. And I wonder; how to compare a ruby, an emerald, a diamond, chrysolite and a amethyst.. You cannt compare them for they are unique.. born from much heat and pressure.. and inately precious.. Precious in their essence.. Even Alexandrite... A new stone discovered Tanzite(sp") is beautiful..

There is stones on that show I have never observed before as, Im sure, there will be in New Jerusalen also.. When the metaphone becomes real and the preciousness of the Lords work in all of us will be displayed and ENJOYED.. I appreciate the "service" those on/on that show give me.. for they preach to me in ways they did not intend, I sure.. LoL..

It is a Spiritual Truth that nothing happens in the life of one of God’s children unless either He permits it or does it.

AMEN, AG! Thanks for your wonderful post and illuminating scripture. God is in control.