Site Search
LOGIN
REGISTER
SEARCH
Home
Homepage
Address Book
Community
Community
Glimpses of Grace
God's Generous and Gentle Nudging
Daily Reading
Devotionals from the Old Testament
Genesis
Job
Exodus
Leviticus
Numbers
Deuteromony
Joshua
1 Samuel
Isaiah
Jeremiah
Hosea
Jonah
Devotionals from the New Testament
Matthew
Mark
Luke
John
Acts
Romans
1 Corinthians
2 Corinthians
Galatians
Ephesians
Philippians
Colossians
1 Thessalonians
2 Thessalonians
1 Timothy
2 Timothy
Titus
Philemon
Hebrews
James
1 Peter
2 Peter
1 John
3 John
Jude
Revelation
Encouragement For Our Nation's Warriors
Checking us out?
FAQ
About EGP
Who Are We
Beth Warlick
Verna McCrillis
Megan Moffit
Erin Joy Turkington
Financial Statements
Contact Information
Doctrinal Statement
History
Newsletter
Previous Newsletters
Quick Lesson Reviews and Class Notes
Semester One Notes
Semester Two Review
Semester Two Notes
Semester Three Notes
Leader's Pearls of Wisdom
Behold Videos
Resources
Resources
Tools for life
Belief System
The Grace Exchange (sample)
Difficult Person
Expectations
Dealing With My Emotions
How Do You Listen To God?
9 Steps in Dealing With Conflict
9 Steps Chart
9 Steps Chart (page two)
Scriptures to Pray for Others
Filling Up with God's Love
Tabernacle
Daily Reading Schedules
How to Use the EGP Prayer Journal
Gospel of Grace for Children
I Get So Mad I Can't Think
Even When I Do the Wrong Thing?
Give Online
Give Online
Store
EGP Store
My orders
Establishing God's Peace
Focus On God and Not On Men
TNIV Scripture for Tuesday, July 22, 2008 [Luke 18:9-14]
To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else, Jesus told this parable: 'Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: 'God, I thank you that I am not like other people--robbers, evildoers, adulterers--or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.' 'But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, 'God, have mercy on me, a sinner.' 'I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.'
Jesus often used parables or stories in His teaching to make his points. Through this particular parable, Jesus illustrated a remarkable truth concerning how God views men in contrast to how man views men. In man's eyes, the fasting tithing Pharisee would be seen as more righteous than the lowly hated tax collector. However, in God's eyes, the Pharisee who proudly compared himself with other men was not right before God and the humble tax collector beating his breast was right before God. Both men were participating in a religious activity of praying at the Temple, but only one man had his eyes on God and that was the one who saw himself a a sinner who needed mercy. The Pharisee was so busy looking at himself and other men, he could not see how bankrupt his life was in light of God's perfection. Because of the fall, your natural tendency is to focus on self and become like the Pharisee. However, as you take some time each day to focus on the Lord in the word and in prayer, you can walk humbly with your God and be exalted.
Beth Warlick, 7/22/2008
From:
Comment:
Please ensure your message complies with our
Acceptable Use Policy
.
Icon:
Login
Register