Heart Direction
Luke 18:9-14 – The Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector
“Heart Direction”
There are lots of thoughts that this passage brings to mind. One of them is about the different mile. Sometimes God asks us to do one thing which He values but we ignore and we replace it with something does not value but we go overboard.
In this case the Pharisee fasts and tithes more than is required but ignores the thing that God values so highly; humility.
Humility is precious to God because humility keeps us teachable and if we are teachable we can keep on learning and if we keep on learning we can continue to grow more and more like Him. So He loves our humility!
And talking about learning new things; I saw something I have never seen in this passage before…
“The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself:”
He did not pray to God but to himself! How did I miss that for the last 33 years!? It leads me to this encouraging thought: if I direct my heart towards God then I will move towards God, if I direct my thoughts to others then I will move towards them.
I must compare myself to Christ not those around me, but as I do so I will naturally gravitate towards Him. That is, as long as long approach Him with a desire to be corrected not to defend myself. The great thing about the Bible is it read us as much as we read it – and it can not only help us direct our hearts towards God but also detect where our heart is going. If you find you are learning towards Him, but still making mistakes, then be encouraged…
Sometimes, it is not important where you are but more important which way you are going.
He always draws near to those who draw near to HIm.
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