Praise Him with a Humble Heart
God Exalts – Part 1

Scripture Reading:  Luke 18:9-14

Key Verse: Luke 18:14

“I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

I think we all need to be reminded that God exalts.  That is what He does for those whom He chooses.  How often do people try to exalt themselves?  For humble Christ followers we don’t need to exalt ourselves, our Father in heaven takes care of all that for us.  When we try to exalt ourselves, the effort fails miserably.  When God determines to exalt someone, He never fails.  It is a human desire to be exalted before our peers, but we must fight the urge to “drop names” or tell a story that we think will make us look good.  God knows the deep motivations of our heart.

Jesus looked into the hearts of some Pharisees and saw their pride.  Jesus took this opportunity to tell a parable.  Two men came to the temple to pray.  One talked about himself, promoting his own righteousness.  The other man—who was a hated tax collector—humbled himself before God and said, “God, have mercy on me, a sinner.”  Jesus looked at that crowd and declared that it was this tax collector that went home justified.  In other words, it was the humble person that got God’s attention.

Jesus ended the story by reminding these listeners that God not only exalts, He humbles.  God will humble those that try to exalt themselves!  Let’s determine to let God do the exalting!

Father, I know I don’t deserve your love and mercy.  I praise you for your matchless grace at work in me.  In Jesus’ name, amen.