Tuesday, May 31, 2016

Be Merciful to This Sinner!

Luke 18:9-14   
9 Also He spoke this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: 10 “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other men—extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. 13 And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me a sinner!’ 14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

Humility acknowledges that we fall short and deserve nothing as we yearn for absolution. We ask God for mercy, not looking down on others.  God justifies those coming in humility and seeking grace in forgiveness, not pride in being better than others and looking done on them. The sacrifice of a broken and contrite heart are never looked down on by God.

No comments:

Post a Comment