- Joined
- Oct 26, 2007
- Messages
- 12,493
"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!' Luke 18:13 NKJV
Staying unshakably connected to God means understanding that your loving heavenly Father desires to shower His grace and mercy on those who humbly confess that they are sinners who are lost without Him.
Jesus told a story about two very different men who went to the temple to pray. One was a local religious leader, and the other was a much-hated tax collector. The religious leader used his prayer to thank God that he wasn’t like sinners, while the tax collector confessed that he was a sinner and begged God for mercy. Jesus told His followers that it was the tax collector, not the self-righteous religious leader, who was justified before God.
Christians should always have the same humility the tax collector showed before God. That means approaching Him with a contrite heart and teachable spirit. Coming to God this way will put you in a position to receive His wonderful mercy.
Prayer: God, thank You for Your gift of mercy when I come to You with a humble, contrite heart. Help me never to think of myself as better than anyone else but instead as a man who needs Your mercy every day. Teach me to understand that Your ways are always better. Teach me to have a humble heart and known that You are my loving and merciful King.
Staying unshakably connected to God means understanding that your loving heavenly Father desires to shower His grace and mercy on those who humbly confess that they are sinners who are lost without Him.
Jesus told a story about two very different men who went to the temple to pray. One was a local religious leader, and the other was a much-hated tax collector. The religious leader used his prayer to thank God that he wasn’t like sinners, while the tax collector confessed that he was a sinner and begged God for mercy. Jesus told His followers that it was the tax collector, not the self-righteous religious leader, who was justified before God.
Christians should always have the same humility the tax collector showed before God. That means approaching Him with a contrite heart and teachable spirit. Coming to God this way will put you in a position to receive His wonderful mercy.
Prayer: God, thank You for Your gift of mercy when I come to You with a humble, contrite heart. Help me never to think of myself as better than anyone else but instead as a man who needs Your mercy every day. Teach me to understand that Your ways are always better. Teach me to have a humble heart and known that You are my loving and merciful King.