God urges all Christians to live consistent with the gospel: "with ALL humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love." (Ephesians 4:2) This is ALWAYS God's desire for every Christian in all circumstances. Is it yours? Is it yours for you? In practice, or just in theory? How is it going? What about when you are misunderstood,neglected, or mistreated? If you are honest, you have to admit that you are a failure—just like I am.
The real question is: do you want to grow in humility? If so, C.S. Lewis would suggest that the first small step is to admit that you are prideful. He declared that no progress can happen without it—and that actually it is a big step. I suggest the second step is the key one—to compare yourself with Jesus the perfect one, instead of with other people or your own past performance. Paul declares it unwise to do the two latter things (2Cor. 10:12). When we compare ourselves to Jesus we see our failure humbly—free from prideful comparisons to others—free from the pressure to promise to change—free from self-condemnation—free to thank God for his sin-bearing love—free to change drawn by a vision of that sin-bearing love—free to change far more and far quicker than others think possible for us.
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