NIGERIAN BAPTIST CONVENTION SEEK DAILY (NBC) Tuesday, September 5 VAIN EXALTATION

RBT: Ezekiel 36-38

Memory Verse: “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 humbled himself will be exalted.” Luke 11:14, NIV

Bible Text: Luke 18:9-14

18:9 To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else, Jesus told this parable: 

18:10 “Two men went up to the templeto pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 

18:11 The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. 

18:12 I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’

18:13 “But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’

18:14 “I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those whohumble themselves will be exalted.”

There is an innate tendency for everyone to brag about some sterling qualities or properties they possess. It gives a false impression that one is better than another. However, there is no basis for exalting oneself over another because no one can receive anything except it is given from above. This is the lesson Jesus taught in our text today. The parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector draws a sharp contrast between the proud and the humble. Verse 11 indicates that the Pharisee prayed “to himself,” not to God. In his self-exalting prayer, he highlighted his achievements over the tax collector, including his religious activities. The tax collector, however, humbled himself before God, acknowledged his sinfulness and asked for mercy. He was acceptable to God over the Pharisee due to his humility. Does the attitude of the Pharisee describe your life? Do you exalt yourself and look down on others? Do your academic achievements make you act proud without due regard to God and respect for people? Be humble and repent. Let your glory be in the Lord and give Him due honour in your life.

Insight: Self-exaltation is vanity and a sure path to humiliation.

Prayer: Lord, please deliver me from every tendency and action that indicate pride.