PRIDE BUSTERS
Outdoors with Jesus is celebrating our 23rd anniversary.
One of our favorite Bible studies was the "PRIDE BUSTERS."
In the world today, the word PRIDE means many different things. Lion's pride, Pride of the Marines, National Pride, and Football team pride, etc. Biblical pride is a sin, which can eternally separate you from God.
"Also He spoke this PARABLE to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and despised others:
Jesus said,
'Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector,
The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, 'God, I thank You that I am not like other men--extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.'
And the Tax Collector, standing afar off,
would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, 'God be merciful to me a sinner!'
I tell you, this man (tax collector) went down to his house justified rather than the other (pharisee); for everyone who EXALTS himself will be abased, and he who HUMBLES himself will be exalted."
The Tax Collector is humble and broken hearted to God; begging for His mercy.
Are you like the Pharisee when you pray, saying, "God look at all the good things I've done, look at all the money and time I have given in service to you; surely I deserve more than all these other people here."
Or are you like the Tax Collector, who prays without focusing his eyes on other people, examining himself and begging God for his mercy and forgiveness.
"Also He spoke this PARABLE to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and despised others:
Jesus said,
'Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector,
The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, 'God, I thank You that I am not like other men--extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.'
And the Tax Collector, standing afar off,
would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, 'God be merciful to me a sinner!'
I tell you, this man (tax collector) went down to his house justified rather than the other (pharisee); for everyone who EXALTS himself will be abased, and he who HUMBLES himself will be exalted."
Luke 18:9-14 NKJV
The PROUD and the HUMBLE
Everyone who exalts himself will be abased or made low; while those who humbles himself will be exalted.
The Pharisee in this story had an "I" problem--he's self-centered. (Circle all the times he said "I.") He was boasting, and looking down on others, and even boasting to God about his fasting.
The Pharisee in this story had an "I" problem--he's self-centered. (Circle all the times he said "I.") He was boasting, and looking down on others, and even boasting to God about his fasting.
The Tax Collector is humble and broken hearted to God; begging for His mercy.
WHICH ONE ARE YOU?
Are you like the Pharisee when you pray, saying, "God look at all the good things I've done, look at all the money and time I have given in service to you; surely I deserve more than all these other people here."
Or are you like the Tax Collector, who prays without focusing his eyes on other people, examining himself and begging God for his mercy and forgiveness.
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