Sunday 10 Mar 2013

Sunday Reading: Luke 18:10-14

Key Verse: Luke 18:11
11  The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.

Devotion:
We all love to hate certain people or types of people in our lives at times and it is those feelings, somewhat misguided, that will land us in trouble just when we don’t expect them to. Love is something else and something that we need to reach out with and to because it comes from the heart and is without want or need; and if you think you love and find it has a want or a need, then think again…

This Pharisee used in this parable by Jesus was someone that the people would normally look up to. He should be someone that upheld the law and made sure that others got to hear that law. He should have been practising the law and making sure that others got to follow it too. But therein lies a problem for us because once we get thoughts of power or pride into our minds, love starts walking out the door and in comes those feelings of want and need; the want to make sure that people listened and the need to show off as someone special.

But this was not coming from a heart that was seeking God but rather from a mind that wanted recognition for all the works that he was doing. This was not bringing glory to God and to His Law but rather lifting himself up in a position of authority with pride and ignorance. Ignorance to the fact that none of this would be possible if it were not for God’s righteous law, ignorance to the fact that the law is there to show us our shortcomings and not to be used as a measuring stick to show how good we are!

God does not want us to boast about all we can do but rather to get on and do things knowing that God is going to get the glory and not us. God wants us to be honest with Him, admit that we are sinners, ask for forgiveness in truth, trust that He will forgive us, and depend on that forgiveness continuing to take His Gospel out to everyone with an open heart. That is what will bring God the glory. We are just His servants and need to be willing servants accepting that others may well mistreat us because we are His servants.

Points to Ponder:
Are you all puffed up?

Or are you God’s humble servant?