Recognising Our Limited Self, Experiencing Our Limitless God

“Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’ But 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!’ I 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.” 

Luke 18:10-14

I spoke to one of my Christian colleague today. She seemed stressed out and strangely quiet today, so I approach with an intention to listen and help. (Although as usual, I can't seems to control my lips.) Even as she shares her financial concerns with me, our conversation somehow seems to spin into our service at church and her role as a drummer (Oh yes, she's a real drummer, ROCK STYLE!). I was surprised that she's still at the learning stage even when she played really well during our company's anniversary celebration.

At some point, she mentioned that many people do not share the same gifts that I do. She said that if she is to stand on the stage and speak it would take her a week of prayer. I was taken away by her words.

I was taken away not because she mentioned that my gifts are rare (I already know that pretty well, hahaha!), but because of the fact she would bring prayer into the picture. You see, I do not think performing bad on the stage is the focus here, but rather the fact that anyone would spend a week of prayer for something that they may not be good at.

Sometimes we face circumstances that drives us to do something that we are not good at. I believe God allows those situations to happen to us on purpose. Because it is exactly these moments in our lives that would drive us into desperation and ultimately leads us to prayer. I don't think it is the doing part that matters to Him, because regardless of whether we fail or succeed in doing something, He is completely able to do those things by Himself and for Himself. Rather, it is the praying part that matters to Him because that's exactly what He is looking for when He puts us under pressure.

God draws us to Himself. One of the many ways He does is allowing trials and temptations in our lives. At times, it is with a purpose that these troubles seem to be beyond our controls and capabilities. In these troubles and trials, we can finally see the things that we have completely no control over and powerless against. Then in our desperations, we turn to Him in prayer and cries of help.

You see, the recognition of our limitations and weakness is where the limitless grace and strength of our God begin to manifest. Recognising the fact that we are weak and limited, put us in a situation where we can only rely on our limitless God.

Luke 18:10-14 gives a very clear contrast between the Pharisee and the tax collector. The Pharisee is the representation of people who boasts their own strength and works; while the tax collector represents people who recognises their dire situation of spiritual helplessness.

The tax collector, while being the worst sinner, walked away justified, because of his pure, simple recognition of his limitations. Despite the fact that he is rich and powerful as a tax collector, he realises that his wealth and power cannot save himself from the eternal fire. Only God's mercy and grace can save him, and he recognises that. Because of that, God's limitless mercy and righteousness covered and justified him.

On the other hand, relying on his limited strength and strict observation of the law, the Pharisee's righteousness is limited only to those worse than himself. That is why he needed to put other people into the picture of his prayer. He needed that contrast in order to magnify his self-made righteousness. But no matter how much he magnifies it, in contrast of God's limitless perfect, his justification is but a mustard seed. He needed God, but he couldn't bring himself to the recognition of his brokenness and desperate need for God.

Troubles and trials lead us to prayer, which ultimately draws us to Him. The recognition of our limitations helps us to remember His limitless power. The experience of His limitless, creates in us a deeper hunger and thirst for Him, drawing us even closer to Himself. And when He unleashes His limitless power, you would be surprised, that "the one who humbles himself will be exalted." (v14)

So therefore, even when you put into situations to do something that you are not good at, remember: it is not how good you can perform that matters. Rather, in the process of doing the seemingly impossible, how desperate are we to seek Him, in prayer and fasting? How badly do we want Him and His aid?