The Pilgrim Path---Luke 18: 13 (4—11—24)

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!’

“GOD, BE MERCIFUL TO ME, A SINNER…”

The Pharisee missed all the joy and life in this parable that Jesus told. Go back and look. Spurgeon calls it, “A sermon for the worst man in the world!” Jesus Christ is for repentant moral rebels---so he is for the self-confessing tax collector. The self-righteous find nothing at the feet of The Redeemer (The Pharisee comes away empty). All I bring the Savior is my sin. When I ask him to please cleanse me and take over my life---he will. He started the entire process (I John 4: 19) and he will carry us on to glory…

From J. C. Ryle: He that has learned to feel his sins has great reason to be thankful. We are never in the way of salvation until we know that we are lost, ruined, guilty, and helpless. Happy indeed is he who is not ashamed to sit by the side of the publican! When our experience tallies with his, we may hope that we have found a place in the school of God.

Grace & peace in Jesus, The Only Redeemer of broken and wretched souls, Pastor Jason