Today’s Scripture: Luke 18:13 ESV: 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!’
Humbling ourselves before God is cleansing and empowering. Crying out passionately to God in our sins justifies us. We can so easily be like the Pharisee in these scriptures. We think too highly of what we have done.
I know I am not worthy and I am thankful for a God who is merciful to me. I admit that I am a sinner and know I come to God a broken man. Thank You God for Your mercy on me.
I am receiving Your kingdom as a child LORD. Teach me what I lack. I lay all I have before You and believe in Your possibilities. I am leaving all that I have to follow You. I desire to do all that I do for the sake of the Kingdom of God.
Lord, help me to see where You want me to go.
Are you asking God for mercy and direction?
Today’s Prayer: God, be merciful to me, a sinner! Lord, tell me and show me the way so I may live fully for the sake of Your Kingdom. I know and confess that I am not worthy but I desire to leave all that I have to live for You. Please show me Your way and teach me how to go. Amen
Tom Raines Jr
Hi Tom:
I thought we are redeemd by the blood of Christ and our sins are washed away so how can you be “a sinner?” ( “I know that I am a sinner”) We sin, yes but non-believers, according to my Bible are the “sinners.” You just touched one of my touchy nerves. 🙂
Thank you Sue, you could very well be right. Thank you for holding me accountable to the truth. I value your input and I will trust you in your understanding of what the word says. I haven’t really studied the definition of sinner. I don’t have to know the definition, however, to know I am one:) I am sure non-believers are written of as sinners and I also believe all among us believers still sin…Who is good? No not one…Sorry to touch a nerve:) Ha.. I believe with all that I have. Christ in me is perfect, but the flesh part of me is still drawn to sin. For years I didn’t believe I was really “saved” because how could I be with the thoughts, deeds and thorns I still possessed. I have confessed my belief that Jesus came, died and rose again. Yet within a flash of speaking these words, I can act, as Joseph stated the other day, as a practical atheist. I can only speak for me, but I feel the need to cry out for God to be merciful to me, a sinner. Chief among them. I would probably be looking around a big ‘ole plank to try to identify any others. Blessings in mercy!
Hi Tom: I didn’t mean to challenge you and I hear what you are saying. I just don’t understand why saved, born again Christians insist they are “sinners” when there is several scripture references showing that non-believers are considered “sinners.” Even Websters defines a sinner – acts like a sinner. Lk.15:7 says that the angels rejoice when SINNERS repent. Get Saved. “Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of SINNERS…” Ps.1:1 There’s a whole bunch. I totally agree with you that we continue to sin and we’re “no good.” I just refuse to put myself in the category that non-believers are in throughout scripture. I’m saved, I’m cleansed by His blood and His sacrifice and yes I sin but I am not “a sinner” as is used throughout scripture. Otherwise Christ died for nothing if we’re ALL sinners. Okay, I’m off the soap box now. ha ha Have a great night, day, week-end.
Thank you Sue!