Marie’s daily verse: Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God (2 Corinthians 1:3-4).

DAILY DEVOTION, July 17, 2024

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).

This verse encapsulates a profound contrast in one of my cherished parables. On the one hand, the Pharisee proudly lists his virtues before God, essentially saying,’ God, I’ve done well, haven’t I? I’ve earned my place in heaven.’ Jesus, however, is cautioning us against this mindset. It’s a dangerous path to believe that we can earn God’s favor through our imperfect good deeds. The Pharisee’s spiritual blindness is evident.

On the other hand, the tax collector humbly acknowledges his sinfulness and pleads for mercy. Jesus declares him justified. This parable teaches us that it’s not our righteousness that saves us but our faith in God’s mercy and the work of Jesus.

The lesson here is clear: our attitude should mirror that of the tax collector, not the Pharisee. Our salvation is not based on our own merits but on the person of Jesus and His redemptive work.

Heavenly Father, I humbly ask that I never approach You with pride in my spiritual achievements. Instead, open my eyes to see my need for Your mercy and forgiveness. In the name of Jesus, I pray, Amen.