What Do You Want God to Think of You?

Do you try to impress God? I admit there are times when I realize I’m trying to dazzle God, eager to hear not just “well done, good and faithful servant” but “Wow! You’re the best!”

Pride can easily creep into our good works, worship, and prayers. We don’t always spot it at a glance. Perhaps that’s one of the reasons Jesus drew such stark contrasts in parables like this:

“Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’

But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.” (Luke 18:9-14)

Taking a closer look at this parable, we can spot some subtle differences between the attitude of the Pharisee and the tax collector to help us distinguish between trying to impress God versus pleasing Him by coming to Him humbly…

Join me at Unlocking the Bible to read the rest. 

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