Luke 18:9-14 And he spoke this parable to certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others:… I. WHEN DO WE PRAY WITH HUMILITY? Learn this from the publican. It is when we acknowledge the infinite majesty of God and our own misery. II. WHY MUST WE BE HUMBLE IN OUR PRAYERS? 1. God demands that we should pray with humility. 2. Reason itself teaches the same. Who would pay any attention to a proud beggar? III. WHAT WE ARE TO DO IN ORDER TO LEARN TO PRAY WITH HUMILITY. A humble prayer can only proceed from a humble heart. Therefore endeavour to become humble of heart, by employing the following means: 1. Being convinced that humility is a grace of God, pray to Him that He may give you this beautiful virtue. 2. Call frequently to your mind what you are in real truth. (1) What is your single self in comparison with the more than one thousand millions of men? You seem to disappear in the prodigious multitude. (2) What are you relative to your body? Dust and ashes. (3) What are you relative to your soul? True, your soul is the image and likeness of God; but what have you made of this Divine image by your sins of the past and of the present? And as to the future, when you reflect on your sins, have you not every reason to tremble before the severe judgment of God? 3. When you approach God in prayer, call to mind who God is in all His splendour and majesty, and who you are — a wretched sinner, a beggar sunk into the greatest misery, a culprit sentenced to death. And then, overwhelmed with the burden of your misery, speak from the depth of your heart to Him who alone is able to deliver you. And if you are troubled with distractions during your prayer, humble yourself again before your Lord and Master, and implore Him that He may not suffer you to commit new sins by negligence; but cease not praying in spite of distractions, and your prayer will be acceptable to the Lord. (J. Schmitt.) Parallel Verses KJV: And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: |
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