JUDGING GOD?
MEMORISE: Woe unto him that striveth with his Maker! Let the potsherd strive with the potsherds of the earth. Shall the clay say to him that fashioneth it, What makest thou? or thy work, He hath no hands? Isaiah 45:9
READ: Luke 18:9 -14
9 And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others:
10 Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.
11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.
12 I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.
13 And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.
14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.
MESSAGE
Wouldn’t it be a funny scene if someone were to have a case in court and then during the court proceedings, the accused turns to the judge and says, “You are the representative of the government. It is because the government did not take care of me that I did what I did, so you are the guilty one”. That was what happened in Genesis 3:8-12 when God asked Adam why he was hiding from Him.
In Matthew 25:14-30, we read the story of a master who gave three of his servant talents to trade with while he was away on a journey. Two traded their talents while the last servant who was given one talent didn’t. When the master returned and asked for a report, the last one came with judgment for his master. He said, “You are the guilty one sir. First you gave everybody more talents than you gave me. Secondly, I know you to be a wicked man who always reaps where he doesn’t sow, and so I hide your talent”. Jesus told this story to point out to us that many of us are judging our Master – the Most High God. We tell Him “The way I’m behaving is because of You. You are the guilty one, You are the one who made me the way I am”. The talent was collected from the judgmental servant and he was thrown out of the presence of the Master into outer darkness, sorrow and pain. Next time you are tempted to judge God, be careful because the result is not likely to be pleasant.
When you go to God in prayer, don’t go telling Him that, in spite of how good you are, He refused to answer your prayers, ask Him for mercy because when you consider everything, you will realize how many things you need to improve on and how you don’t even deserve the things that God has already given you.
A woman came to me complaining bitterly, questioning why God had refused to bless her despite paying her tithes regularly, giving offerings and always making herself available to work for God. She had forgotten that she had told me earlier that she was then in her third marriage. I told her that what she needed from God was mercy. When I go to God I just say, “Lord, please have mercy on me”.
PRAYER POINT
Father, please just have mercy on me.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Psalm 139- 140
HYMN 17: O LORD MY GOD, WHEN I IN AWESOME WONDER
O Lord my God! When I in awesome wonder
consider all the works thy hand hath made,
I see the stars, I hear the mighty thunder,
thy power throughout the universe displayed;
Then sings my soul, my Saviour God, to thee,
how great thou art, how great thou art!
Then sings my soul, my Saviour God, to thee,
how great thou art, how great thou art!
When through the woods and forest glades I wander
and hear the birds sing sweetly in the trees;
when I look down from lofty mountain grandeur
and hear the brook and feel the gentle breeze:
Then sings my soul…
And when I think that God, his Son not sparing,
sent him to die – I scarce can take it in
that on the cross, my burden gladly bearing,
he bled and died to take away my sin:
Then sings my soul…
When Christ shall come with shouts of acclamation
and take me home – what joy shall fill my heart!
Then shall I bow in humble adoration
and there proclaim, ‘my God, how great thou art!’
Then sings my soul
