March 14, 2015 Saturday: 3rd Week of Lent

A Lenten Pilgrimage
March 14, 2015 Saturday: 3rd Week of Lent

In today’s parable, two men--the Pharisee and the tax collector--offered prayers at the Temple. When they expressed their prayers, the true character of their heart was revealed. When the Pharisee prayed, he was quick to tell the Lord how things really were -- he bragged about his righteousness by comparing himself to other men. He even saw a tax collector praying nearby and talked about how much better he was than the man. The tax collector, however, did not offer any swelling words of self-glorification. He knew that he had nothing at all to offer the Lord and he knew that he was a wicked sinner. The tax collector told the truth, humbled himself before God, and asked for mercy.

The prayer of the Pharisee was indicative of the praying of most self-righteous Jews in the area.  The tax collector prayed a short, simple to the point prayer and God heard him. When the Pharisee prayed, he was not talking to the Lord; he was talking to himself and for the benefit of those around him.

Prayer is not about who we are, what we think, what we want, or what we have done. Prayer is time to seek the face of God; to ask Him to bless our lives; to ask Him to move among us; to pray for those around us; to humble ourselves before the Lord; to acknowledge our own need of Him! We should use our public prayers, not as a time to exalt our spirituality, but to praise and glorify God; to seek His power; and to thank Him for His blessings.

One man went to the temple and left with nothing -- he went through the ritual, judged others by his standards, prayed his self-serving prayers, worshiped himself. This man went home feeling good about himself, but He received nothing from God for his efforts. The other man went to the temple and left with everything -- he didn’t make a spiritual show, prayed a simple prayer, offered God honesty, confession and worship, left that church right with the Lord. The difference between the two was in the attitude and condition of their hearts. One was full of himself and thought he needed nothing more. The other knew he was nothing and possessed nothing. He humbled himself before God and he was blessed.

How do we come to church? How do we see others around us who don’t do things to our standard? How is our praying? We should humbly admit that we ourselves are like the tax collector needing the mercy of God.