Hey Friend,
Have you ever really paid attention to how little children talk to God? Today one of the grands came in and asked me what I was doing. I started sharing a small bit about a Scripture I was reading. He quoted it with me. We were quiet for a moment then I asked him if he would pray for a couple of people. He did. What was interesting was the last person he prayed for. I told him he really needs help right now.
He prayed: Lord, he needs to leave the devil and go to Jesus.
Wow! I thought all these lengthy prayers people pray, I know I have been guilty!!!
It makes me think about this account in the Book of Luke: There were two different people praying. One was a Pharisee and one was a Publican. Who was Jesus talking to? Well, I'm glad you asked;) Jesus was talking to those who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others.
It goes like this:
And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others.
Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.
The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.
I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.
And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast (that means to beat his chest), saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.
I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.
-Luke 18:9-14
Pharisees were Jewish men who prided themselves on their good works. They opposed Jesus and His teachings strongly. They always clashed with Jesus. They were legalistic, hypocritical, and put traditions over heart obedience. They did not believe Jesus was the Messiah.
Publicans were tax collectors. They were detested by Jews and other nations, not just because of their job and the harshness, but the greed and deception in the way they went about doing their job but the key difference is that they were repeatedly shown to be receptive to Jesus (Matthew and Zaccheus). They were social outcasts who responded with repentance and faith to Jesus.
Children don't pray lofty, high fancy prayers. They pray simply just like the publican.
"God be merciful to me, a sinner."
"Lord, he needs to leave the devil and go to Jesus."
This interested me so much further that I started studying even more. I used the Blue Letter Bible App. I have used it for years. I noticed in the commentary of Matthew Henry on Luke Chapter 18, he explains very well what is happening here.
He explained how this was not the hour of public prayer. Both men went for personal devotions.
Each had a different agenda.
The Pharisee came to make his appearance, the publican to make his request.
The Pharisee was so full of himself and his own goodness that he thought he had need of nothing, no, not of the favour and grace of God, which it would seem, he did not think worth asking. Notice how he started off in his prayer: "God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men…"
But look at the publican's prayer: "God, be merciful to me a sinner." He sees himself as he is: a convicted criminal at God's bar. He knows nothing will save him but the mercy of God.
We, by the grace of God, are able to see this prayer answered because the Word tells us he went home justified.
See how the punishment answers the sin: "He that exalteth himself shall be abased." See how the recompense answers the duty: "He that humbles himself shall be exalted."
See also the power of God's grace in bringing good out of evil; the publican had been a great sinner, and out of the greatness of his sin was brought the greatness of his repentance; "out of the eater came forth meat".
See, on the contrary, the power of Satan's malice in bringing evil out of good. It was good that the Pharisee was no extortioner, nor unjust; but the devil made him proud of this, to his ruin.
Oh, let us not think more highly of ourselves than we should!
And remember…
Keep pouring!
Renea