There are days I get Chronic Ego Flare-up (CEF), a condition in which my ego starts screaming for attention. My whacked-out ego seizes my thoughts and badgers my mind with rantings, grumblings and complaining. Suddenly, I am de- bating myself about my pay scale at work and whether I am being paid what I am worth. Or I am eager for credit for my smallest accomplishment. During this time I even wonder if I was put on earth to do much greater things than coach. The issues that come to my mind are not usually things I think about except when I am having a CEF attack.
My inflated ego means I have decided to govern my own thoughts, words and deeds and to ignore the claim Christ has on my life. In other words, when my ego goes postal I am stag- ing a coup against God for control of my life. I have yet to discover what triggers these flare-ups; I do know the remedy is Christ’s cross.
As my sinfulness escalates, God in Christ shows me His cross. Through the work of the Holy Spirit, I am made aware of Christ’s sacrifice on my behalf. The Spirit awakens me to Jesus’ absolute submission to God and the glory the Son brought to the Father through His death on the cross. After Judas left the Passover meal to betray Jesus, Jesus said to the disciples, “Now is the Son of Man glorified and God is glorified in him” (John 13:31).
When the Spirit leads me to Christ’s cross, my ego is abased; then I submit to God’s authority over my life.