MAY 23

Luke 18:10-14
Memorise Psalm 34:18
“The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart…”

Just as there are idols of the heart, there is also such a thing called the
attitude of the heart, or heart condition. The attitude of the heart is
something that only the worshipper and the Lord will be able to discern.
Luke 18:10-14 gives us a very simple yet graphic illustration of what Jesus
considers to be acceptable and what is unacceptable when worshipping
God. To come to God in a proud and self-righteous manner will only invoke
God’s displeasure. However, to come to God with a broken and contrite
heart is pleasing to Him.

This is not to say that we must take self abasement to the extreme and shy
away from God, but rather, we have to approach Him while acknowledging
in our hearts that we are unworthy people who look to Him alone for our
needs. In fact, Hebrews 4:16 tells us to “come boldly unto the throne
of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of
need”, and indeed, we can all approach God in prayer and worship with
the confidence that He will receive us as His children because we do so
in the name of Jesus Christ who died on the cross for our justification.

Although having a right inward attitude during worship is not something
that can readily be seen outwardly, there definitely are certain outward
attitudes or postures which are incompatible with approaching God in
a reverential manner during worship. Carnal and provocative dressing,
adopting a casual and disrespectful posture, eating, drinking, laughing
and getting distracted during worship and prayer are unacceptable. If we
know who God really is and what we are before Him, we should have no
trouble understanding the need for both inward and outward reverence
during worship.

How often have we really thought about what goes through our hearts
and minds during worship? Do we come to church joyfully because we
have had a good week only to appear in church next week angry and
resentful because we had a bad week? If this is the case then we have
allowed the cares of the world to displace God from His rightful position
in our hearts.

Thought: Thinking that I lack nothing, I have everything to lose. Knowing
that I am needy, I have everything to gain.
Prayer: Help me see, O Lord, my need for Thee and keep me from pride
that I may enjoy the riches of Thy grace forever more