And He also told this parable to some people who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and viewed others with contempt:

"Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.

"The Pharisee stood and was praying this to himself: 'God, I thank You that I am not like other people: swindlers, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector.

'I fast twice a week; I pay tithes of all that I get.'

"But the tax collector, standing some distance away, was even unwilling to lift up his eyes to heaven, but was beating his breast, saying, 'God, be merciful to me, the sinner!'

"I tell you, this man went to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted."

—Luke 18:9-14

This has been my constant prayer recently "God, be merciful to me, the sinner!" I am unsure about you, but I am being tried physically, spiritually, and emotionally. I am like the persistent widow in the parable before this one (Luke 18:1) and I will continually pray this prayer. Without a doubt I know that God's will is being done. There is nothing that escapes His attention. God will never say "Ooops, I didn't realize this was happening." I am thankful in all things and that He is merciful.

As I was writing this I noticed this sentence in-between the two parables: " However, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth?" —Luke 18:8b Faith building. Faith that He is in control, He sees the bigger picture and that nothing bad could happen to those that follow Him.

{For I am} confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus. Philippians 1:6

So be it!

—Louise

Posted on November 26, 2009

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