Self-flattery promotes blindness

Psalms 36:2, "[The wicked] In their own eyes they flatter themselves too much to detect or hate their sin."

When we love self-flattery and the flattery from others it will blind us to see our sin and our need for repentance. Sin will destroy us unless it's forgiven and cleansed by God.

But for that we need to want God to show our sin to us, so we may experience conviction in our hearts and hate it and turn the other way from it, by his gracious help.

It is seeing God's kindness to us in giving his Son Jesus Christ for us and to us that will lead us to repentance. "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." John 3:16

Or as a pastor from Boston A.J.Gordon (1836-1895) put it, "God poured out his love in such unstinted measure."

May God have mercy on us and not give us over to our stubborn sinful ways, but give us hearts that want to trust and love him.