Have you noticed that God wants us to be exactly what strive so hard NOT to be? What do we strive for? We go to school, we get a job so that we won’t be helpless, broken, and dependent! And that is also what we teach our children not to be, for those of us with children. We teach them to be capable, robust, and  and independent.

But God only accepts those who are helpless, broken, and dependent – the exact opposite of capable, robust and independent! So, the way we educate ourselves or even our children might actually be taking them further from God!

In Luke 18, three short stories are told one after the other. First, Jesus speaks of an unrighteous judge who gives justice to a woman because she was persistent. In like manner, Jesus tells us to be persistent in prayer. But who prays constantly to God? A person who is helpless!

Second, Jesus tells the story of a tax collector at the temple who beats his breast saying, “Have mercy on me O Lord, a sinner!”And teaches that this broken man was accepted God and not the pharisee who seemed so robust.

Third, Jesus takes in children and says, “whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.” Meaning? We must be dependent on God.

Now, this does not mean that we should be lazy, skip school, and not seek for employment. It is speaking of our inner attitude. As we are going to school, going to work, our attitude must be that without God, we are utterly incapable, sinful, and meaningless. Thus, we do all things faithfully knowing that it is God who gives us strength, makes us whole, and offers us meaning.

As soon as you start thinking, “I’m better! I’m so capable! I’m a good person!,” kill that thought! It is not of God. And it does not draw us closer to God. God draws to Himself those who are helpless, broken, and dependent on Him.

If you seem strong and have it well put together, you are probably not in God’s will.

PH