Poem: Arrogance Lurks

You think you got it all together,
With all your “perfect” works;
Tithing and fasting you brag,
In your heart arrogance lurks.

Don’t point the finger as if,
You have no guilt of your own;
Putting down that tax collector,
You’re true colors you have shone.

Look to him who barely lifts,
His eyes as he beats his breast;
This man begs for God’s mercy,
His grieving heart passes the test.

He goes to his home justified,
Not exalting himself like you;
Be humble you haughty sinner,
For you the same can be true.

“But the tax collector, standing some distance away, was even unwilling to lift up his eyes to heaven, but was beating his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, the sinner!’” Luke 18:13

Prayer:
You are merciful to all who humbly ask for Your forgiveness, my righteous God. But You tear the arrogant down from their seat of self-exaltation because no one in this world is worthy to be above any other person for we have all sinned in our own ways. LORD, I will humble my heart to You for my own sins — beating my breast and barely lifting my eyes because I am to blame. As I evaluate myself, I will not exalt myself for my lack of sins in comparison to others for I am ashamed of every sin I commit and have not been perfect in my own works. There is no work I can do to satisfy my debt, but to live my life by faith in the works of Jesus Christ, my Savior. Thank you for the opportunity to be justified by Your mercy just as the tax collector. Amen.

Truth in love,
Heather