Step/Week 7, Day 4 – Victory: Turn Your Sins Over to Jesus Christ
May 6, 2020 872
“‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner.’ I tell you, this sinner, not the Pharisee, returned home forgiven! For the proud shall be humbled, but the humble shall be hono[u]red” (Lk. 18:13-14, TLB).
Today’s verses speak about a right attitude when approaching God at the time of confessing sins. It also speaks about the difference between a proud attitude (the Pharisee) and a humble attitude (the tax collector).
The tax collector’s words: “God be merciful to me, a sinner” is a powerful prayer that you can use when turning over your sins and shortcomings to Jesus. There’s real recognition in the one who prays these words, that they are in need of God’s complete forgiveness.
The tax collector wouldn’t even raise his eyes to God, but beat his chest with his hands, as he prayed these words. That’s a powerful image of someone repenting. His attitude was right before God and he chose to humble himself in God’s presence. However, the Pharisee (the religious of the day) did the opposite: he compared himself to the tax collector thinking he was better than him and took a proud attitude at the time of his confession. His attitude was wrong as Jesus’ statement says, “I tell you, this sinner [the tax collector], not the Pharisee, returned home forgiven” (emphasis added); this clearly shows you what sort of attitude you should have when approaching God to forgive you of your sins and shortcomings.
Having the right daily attitude will help you as you walk this journey to complete recovery, with God by your side.
– Graham Hood
Personal Reflection: Seek God each day. Don’t delay—confess your sins and shortcomings! Ask Him to work on your pride and replace it with humility.
Leave a Reply