All the Rules I Followed Gave Me Pride

By Paul Miller

July 15, 2011

I used to get up early and work hard ‘most every day.
There were, of course, those times when it was good to rest and play.

I used to feed the chickens, milk the cows, and stack the wood.
I went to church, obeyed the rules, and I was pretty good.

I had best friends, fine family, and close community,
But never really gave much thought to my eternity.

I had religion. All the rules I followed gave me pride;
But now I see that my beliefs were all on the outside.

I followed our traditions and our rules down to the letter;
But then I heard God's call. Could this be true? Could this be better?

I understood from God's word that salvation-it was free!
Jesus had died-salvation-it did not depend on me!

Before, I really never knew if I would be okay.
I hoped that I was good enough, but that was not God's way.

I saw from God's word that salvation came through faith, by grace,
And that was when I saw my sin and fell upon my face!

I cried to God to save me from myself, my pride, my sin.
I trusted in the Lord alone, Who changed me-from within!

I still work hard and have good friends and love my family;
I still have times of rest and still have close community.

I have true joy and peace and God gave me a brand new start,
Since I repented and God's Holy Spirit changed my heart.

I do not fear the shunning and the problems of today,
My hope is in the Lord. I trust His word and I must pray.

I pray that those I know and love will see I love them still.
I pray that God's true peace and love will their own hearts soon fill.

I pray that they will see the spotless Lamb of God Who frees us.
I pray that they will soon put their full trust and hope in Jesus!

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