PLEASE READ THIS FIRST: Luke 18:9-14
What do you sense the Lord saying to you in this passage?
Those who humble themselves will be exalted.” (Luke 18:13)
Take a moment to think about your particular weaknesses.
What sin issues do you struggle with?
Do you see your issues as not as bad as others?
Or do you see yourself as no worse than others?
When we compare ourselves to others, we misunderstand sin.
We need to see our moral flaws in relation to God’s will.
We need to see ourselves in contrast to who we should be.
To humble myself is not to demean or hate myself.
To humble myself is to see myself honestly, as I really am.
If we did, we wouldn’t have time to be critical of others.
No matter who sins how, my sins are my concern.
We all need to reach this point of honesty before God.
Only then can we discover the wonder of God’s grace.
Only then can we experience Jesus lifting us up.
PRAYER
Lord, I want to be exalted the proper way – by you and not by myself. Help me to experience the blessing of honest humility and gracious exaltation!
Humility – being humble: “He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’ God is awesome and his power it unlimited- looking at recent photos of the mixing of galaxy’s – the breath and the vastness is just blows my mind! To think that I’m valued by God – that he would design to rescue me from my own arrogant and sinful nature and that he as I sin daily – yet I may come to Him – I am humbled – I stand in awe beyond understanding it all – but I do stand because of Jesus who has made it real! HS keep me in awe -that I may praise and seek to praise every day!
Where is my focus – on myself or others?
I am reminded of the splinter and the log in the eye.
When my relationship to the Lord is right then my relationship to my fellowman will also be right because I will see them through God’s eyes. We all need the Saviour but I need to look at myself first and have the right relationship with the Lord before I can help others in Jesus’ name. Others need to see the Jesus lives in me by what I say and do – being alive in Christ. Let His Light shine.
1 Come to the Savior now,
he gently calls to you;
in true repentance bow,
let him your heart renew.
Christ came that you may know
salvation, peace, and love,
true joy on earth below,
a home in heaven above.
2 Come to the Savior now,
all who have wandered far;
renew your solemn vow,
for his by right you are;
come like poor, wandering sheep
returning to his fold;
his arm will safely keep,
his love will ne’er grow cold.
3 Come to the Savior, now,
he offers all to you,
and on his merits you
can plead for life anew.
No vain excuses frame,
respond to Christ today!
None who to Jesus came
were ever sent away.
4 Come to the Savior, all,
whate’er your burdens be;
hear now His loving call,
“Cast all your care on me.”
Come, and for every grief,
in Jesus you will find
a sure and safe relief,
a loving friend and kind.