Broken

Luke 18:11-14 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. I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. 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. 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.

Yesterday I left you with the thought that the soil (a man’s heart) cannot break itself. Here in the telling by Jesus is a vital piece of the puzzle. It occurs in verse thirteen. That sinner would not approach holy ground, knowing he was unworthy. He would not look up to heaven fearing God with reverence. But then he beats his chest, signifying his heart is broken. Then lastly without even understanding how, he begs God to save him.

All too often I have seen well-meaning men accept others into baptism who never asked the most basic and pertinent question of their applicant, “Why do you come here today?” If the answer is anything but “Because my heart is breaking.” then I would dig deeper to see if there is a proper understanding of salvation.

Matthew 13:23 But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.

The good soil has to understand it is broken and why.

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