How do you come to God?

These verses made me do some thinking this morning, I hope they do the same for you:



Luke 18:10-14



10 “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 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. 12 I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’ 13 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!’ 14 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.”



So when you come to God each day, how do you come to Him? Are we like the Pharisee who thinks he has everything in order? Or are we like the tax collector who comes knowing he is a sinner who is in need of God's grace and mercy?



Now I know that when we have given our lives to Jesus we can come to God with boldness and love like a child to a father but we also need to have a heart that is reminded often of who we are coming to....God. The One who deserves to pour out His wrath upon us but because of His love, He sent His Son Jesus to take the wrath for us and shed His blood upon that cross for our sins!



Humbleness is a often mentioned word in the bible. God desires His servants to be humble before Him. He despises pride. We have nothing to be prideful about in our lives because it all comes from God not us! Look at these verses:



Psalm 25:9 He leads the humble in what is right, and teaches the humble his way.



Psalm 147:6 The Lord lifts up the humble; he casts the wicked to the ground.



Proverbs 11:2 When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with the humble is wisdom.



Matthew 18:4 Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.



Matthew 23:12 Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.



James 4:6 But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”



James 4:10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.



1 Peter 5:6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you,Wow!



So once again I ask how are you coming to God and how are you living your life? Are you proud or are you humble?



Tom