Luke 18:9-14
verse 13: “But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’”
This morning I am still so moved by yesterday’s service and the experience of this Holy Week. Just like the tax collector, I know God is there for me, and I am on the receiving end of overflowing grace and mercy. Do I deserve it? As one of God’s children, I do not need to figure that out. God has told me I am precious to him.
The tiny feather in the photo was on our front window. It was so small, I thought it was a baby mosquito pressed onto the glass. But it was a feather! And as I enlarged the photo to look at it, it became more and more intricate. This is how my relationship and experience with God has grown- closer, clearer, more complicated yet simple and beautiful. I am so thankful to God this morning for His love, his protection and his patience. Lord, I am yours. Amen
Becky, transforming
Luke 18: 9-14
The Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector
The Pharisee was full of self-righteousness and the Tax Collector was atoning for his sins, but did they really change? Only God would know the answer to that question. No matter what my sins are, self-righteousness, unworthiness or anything in between, I know there is mercy and forgiveness for me when I tell God I am sorry for my sins. Because I know the full extent of my sinfulness, I will continue to ask for God’s grace and forgiveness. By Jesus’ death and resurrection I know my sins will be forgiven and that I should be just as forgiving of others.
Dearest Lord, you gave your life for…
Luke 18:9-14 I have read and written on this passage before. We know the lesson is about self-righteousness, and about truly asking God for forgiveness. Today when I read the passage, I focused on the Tax Collector. Was he Zacchaeus? Was this the beginning of his journey to God. Was he beginning to be so unsatisfied with his profession that he came to the Temple to ask for forgiveness. Then, hearing about Jesus and his teachings did he feel like he had to climb a tree to get sight of him. How surprised he must have been to hear Jesus’ words. This, of course, is all supposition, but who knows. There is so much that I read in the B…
Luke 18:9-14
For prayer to be sincere they has to come from a humble heart. In the scripture above Luke 18:9-14. The Pharisees prayed making an extravagant speech about himself. He was to focused on he, himself and him and what he thought about himself and not what he should be saying to God. The second man a tax payer despised by all, humbled himself to God in prayer asking for repentance as he knew he was a sinner. Our prayers need to be humble, and sincere as we know how powerful prayer is. I know my prayers don’t have to be eloquent or full of bragging , I need to keep them simple and full of faith. Lo…
Luke 18:9 - “He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and regarded others with contempt:”
Self-righteousness is always an off-putting personality trait. It is not so much the good the person does, but it is their contempt for others who don’t measure up to their standards. None of us measures up to God’s standards, no, not one. We must put vain and pointless comparisons aside if we are to live the way of Christ.
Prayer - Jesus, model of humility and compassion, instill in me the desire and ability to meet people where they are and share Your love without demanding what I perceive as doing all the right things. We…