THINK TOGETHER.
What things do you pray for?
READ TOGETHER
Proverbs 30:13. There are those—how lofty are their eyes, how high their eyelids lift!
Here is Agur’s third description of the wicked. Do you remember the first two? First, the wicked curse their parents. Second, they never think they’ve done anything wrong. Now, in today’s verse, they are proud and look down on others. That’s what having lofty eyes means. It means that you look down on people. You think less of people. You always think that you are the most important person.
Do other people bother you? Annoy you? Do you wish some people would just leave you alone? Are there people that you think you are better than? Are there people you are glad that you are not like them?
Jesus once told a parable about two different men who went to the temple to pray. One had lofty eyes and one had lowly eyes. The story is from Luke’s gospel:
Luke 18:9-14. 9He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt: 10“Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men…even like this tax collector. 12I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’ 13But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ 14I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”
Which man had lofty eyes? Which man did God forgive? God is never on the side of those who look down on others, but he will always forgive and accept those who turn to Jesus in humility. Which prayer will you pray today?
Because of Jesus God’s acceptance is always available to the humble.
With Jesus we can be humble and receive God’s mercy.
DO SOMETHING TOGETHER
Practice praying together for God’s mercy. Often we pray for solutions to problems or for blessings. How often does your family confess sin and ask God for mercy? Make this a regular part of your prayer time.
PRAY TOGETHER
Jesus, be merciful to me a sinner. Amen.
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