44F.1
How did our Lord Jesus Christ show the right
manner of returning to God? Likewise,
how did it depict God's loving kindness and
mercy?
In Luke 18:13-14, our Lord Jesus Christ
narrates:
But the tax collector, standing
far off, would not even lift up his
eyes to heaven, but beat 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
who exalts himself will be humbled,
but he who humbles himself will be
exalted." (RSV)
This is the story
of a Publican (a Jewish tax collector)
who after realizing himself as a sinner
and therefore not fit to receive God's
grace and mercy, could hardly lift his
eyes to heaven as he prayed to God.
But, what did our
Lord Jesus Christ assure us concerning
the publican?
"I tell you this man went
down to his house justified . . . he
that humbles himself shall be exalted."
44F.2
In contrast, who
prayed before God , but was not forgiven?
In Luke 18:11-12, our Lord Jesus
Christ narrates:
The Pharisee stood and prayed
thus with himself, 'God, I thank
thee that I am not like other men,
extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or
even like this tax collector. I fast
twice a week, I give tithes of all
that I get.' (RSV)
The complete opposite of the
publican, the Pharisee, unashamedly and
arrogantly proclaimed: "I am not
as the other men are." He
unhesitatingly enumerated what he was
not, and what his achievements were.
What is the Lord's
verdict upon the Pharisee?
"for every one who exalts himself will
be humbled, but he who humbles himself
will be exalted."
One,
therefore must not forget to be humble
before God.
Always be humble in asking God for
forgiveness, for the Lord exalts those who
humble themselves before Him, but the Lord
will humble those who exalts themselves.
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