Daily Worship

ME

Mrs Karen Brown August 10, 2015 0 0

Luke 18: 9-14

The Story of the Tax Man and the Pharisee

9-12 He told his next story to some who were complacently pleased with themselves over their moral performance and looked down their noses at the common people: “Two men went up to the Temple to pray, one a Pharisee, the other a tax man. The Pharisee posed and prayed like this: ‘Oh, God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, crooks, adulterers, or, heaven forbid, like this tax man. I fast twice a week and tithe on all my income.’

13 “Meanwhile the tax man, slumped in the shadows, his face in his hands, not daring to look up, said, ‘God, give mercy. Forgive me, a sinner.’”

14 Jesus commented, “This tax man, not the other, went home made right with God. If you walk around with your nose in the air, you’re going to end up flat on your face, but if you’re content to be simply yourself, you will become more than yourself.”

Lord, it’s ME yes Me!
I’m almost too busy to pray, but I know I’ll manage anyway.
The whole week I’ve been doing what you demand of me
visiting the housebound, (but of course Lord, you know that’s my special gift)
 there were the church lunches and the crèche and my skills in administration meant I was much in demand.
 I keep all you rules about putting others first and of course give as much as I can to Christian Aid!
Lord, do you see what I’m doing for you? So, why do I often feel so empty inside?
Somehow the more I do for you the further away you seem to be as if all my doing is hiding your presence.
Maybe I need to stop, be still and listen and allow your love to reach my heart.
In the stillness I hear you reminding me that you gave your son Jesus to show your love and forgiveness for us all.
Lord, forgive me for being so full of ME that I lost sight of YOU.

You who are Almighty God our loving heavenly father!  
Help me to be still in your presence that I might know that there is nothing I have ever done, nothing I can ever do and nothing I will ever be able do to earn your love.
Your love is your gift given in grace through Jesus.  
AMEN.