By: G. John Thimothy
One more thing I’d like to cover and that is our attitude of others and ourselves. We need to have the right attitude when praying to our Father or our prayers will not be answered. Lets go to Luke.
Luke 18:9-14
9 And He spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others.
We can’t start thinking we are the greatest thing on earth. It is God that does the judging and says who is righteous or not. Christians are not second class people, so don’t think that. Don’t think that just because you are a Christian you’re better than everyone else.
10 Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.
The Pharisee was part of the religious group the Pharisees. A publican was a tax collector.
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.
12 I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.
The Pharisee thought that he was really hot stuff. He thought that he was better than everyone else and did not ask forgiveness for his sins. I guess he thought he was too good to sin. Also, God’s law only calls for a fast once a year, see Leviticus 16:29-34 And he didn’t have to tithe of everything he had, see Deuteronomy 14:22-23 The Pharisee was following the traditions of men and not the Law of God.
13 And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.
The publican was standing by himself with his head down feeling sorry for his sins. He asked God to be merciful to him. He admitted that he was a sinner and felt bad for sinning, two things the Pharisee didn’t do.
14 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.
We must be humble before God. Just because we are Christians does not mean we are better than anyone else. We sin just like God’s other children. When we pray to God we need to be humble and ask forgiveness for are sins. Don’t bother saying your sorry for something your not, we can not fool God. As Christians let us humble ourselves before the Lord and let Him exalt who He chooses.
I hope that this study will help you become closer to our Father and help you with your prayer life with Him. Remember to keep our Father first in your prayers and that His will be done. Ask for things that will glorify Him and not ourselves. Ask for forgiveness for your sins and forgive those that have sinned against you. Having a better prayer life will bring us closer to God and He will bless us for it.
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