Sunday, September 11, 2011

Knowing Where We Stand

But the tax collector, standing some distance away, was even unwilling to lift up his eyes to heaven, but was beating his breast, saying, "God, be merciful to me, the sinner!" (Luke 18:13)

It's me, O Lord, standing in the need of prayer! This line in one old song says it rightly. Both these men were standing in the need of prayer. But only one knew where he stood. He stood some distance away. Only one knew why he was in need of prayer. He was the sinner...he needed mercy...for justice was coming. Jesus said this man was justified because he recognized where he stood before God. The other man stood at the center of a universe of his own delusion. He came into the temple, the place of God's presence, to announce to himself his view of his own righteousness. He wasn't declaring this viewpoint to God for God had no reason to be informed about the man's condition. God knows where we stand. The man was declaring this to himself. He was the object of his prayer. This is an example for us to see that a man will lie to himself, even while he thinks he's praying. Praying to God requires that we talk to God. And talking to God will reveal to us where we stand before God. A place of prayer...standing some distance away...pleading for mercy. Is the place you stand before God a better place than some occupy or are you standing in the place of the sinner? Do you know where you're standing today?

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