” Memory Verse
“I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.”
Luke 18:14
Today’s Devotional
God didn’t answer the publican not because he was a publican but because of the state of his heart; he was circumspect enough to know at that moment he wasn’t in a right place with God and humble enough not to still try to compare and consider himself better than the Pharisee:
“And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.” Luke 18:13
It was his humility not his sinful state that God was responding to, this takes away any assumption that those who do the word (represented by the Pharisee) would be passed on for those who don’t (represented by the Publican). Instead, the lesson to be learnt is, God judges our intentions and when we are before him- no other person matters; we don’t start questioning why others have it better than us or why others should have it worse, your time of prayer is fellowship between you and your father in secret:
“But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.” Matthew 6:6
And independent from his fellowship with others: John 21:21-22
Bible Reading Plan
Joshua 21
Ephesians 4