Topic: Prideful Prayers [Friday December 1, 2017]
Text: Luke 18:9-17
Key Verse: “I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted” (Luke 18:14).
Jesus gave a parable of two men who went to pray. One would ordinarily expect people who pray to approach God with feelings of inadequacy, insufficiency and humility. Who would have imagined that people can pray with pride? But that was what the Pharisee did. He approached God as a self-righteous person. As such, he felt he had no reason to confess his sins to the heavenly Father.
In his own judgment, there was nothing wrong with him or anything he did wrong against God. Fully satisfied with himself, he began to list his religious achievements and activities before the Almighty. His righteousness which the Bible describes as filthy, was all the man could boast of. He also compared himself with the publican and felt he was much better than the poor fellow.
How do you pray? What do you say when you pray? How do you demonstrate and gesticulate when you pray? Do you box with God while praying or reverence Him as God? Do you humble yourself with your choice of words or accuse the King of kings? Do you, like the publican, appreciate the privilege prayer offers you to approach the throne of grace or shout at the holy God before whom cherubims cover their faces? Are you proud in your prayers? Do you use prayers to show off, just to create awareness in people on how prayerful you are? Do you boast of how many hours you can spend in prayer? Prayer times are precious times that give us access to the throne of grace. Such hallowed times should make us grateful and humble – like the publican.
Thought for the day: “Be not proud of race, face, place or grace” – C. H. Spurgeon.
Bible Reading in one Year: Jude
DCLM Daily Manna was written by Pastor William Folorunso Kumuyi; is the founder and General Superintendent of the Deeper Life Bible Church situated at KM 42 on the busy Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Nigeria.
