SATURDAY, MARCH 10
Luke 18:9-17
Psalm 66:13-20

“If I regard iniquity in my heart,
the Lord will not hear me.”

EXALTATION IS FOR THE HUMBLE

Jesus taught the people how they were to approach God in prayer. In a parable, He contrasted the prayer of a Pharisee and a publican. He rebuked the Pharisee’s proud and self-righteous prayer. The Pharisee enumerated what he thought were good works that counted towards his righteousness. On the other hand, the publican was an example of a repentant man in prayer. Publicans in Jesus’ days were considered sinners unworthy of heaven, but it was the publican who was justified and not the Pharisee who boasted of his religiosity.

We must not come to God in prayer as if we are worthy to approach His Holy throne. We are only given the privilege because of what the Lord Jesus Christ has done for us. No Christian should pray like the Pharisee. Jesus wants us to know that in order to sincerely come to Him in prayer we must admit our sinfulness and ask for His forgiveness. “If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me” (Ps 66:18). It is not by works of man’s own righteousness that justifies man before God but by his sincere repentance of sins and his faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Justification is an act of God declaring the believing sinner not guilty of the condemnation because of what Jesus has done for him on the cross.

Jesus used the young children as an example of how one ought to approach Him. He receives those who have the character of the young and innocent. They are humble, teachable and have no selfish ambitions. Christians must come to God with such a childlike heart, in simplicity and dependence.

We must go to Jesus without complexities or demands, only asking for the forgiveness of our sins. We must fully trust His salvation grace without thinking to add any of our own merits. Jesus said that without that childlike faith man cannot be part of God’s Kingdom.

THOUGHT: Am I humble when I come before God in prayer?
PRAYER: Lord, forgive my pride and arrogance, grant me humility.