Daily Devotion

THE DEVOUT OBSERVED THREE PRAYER TIMES DAILY---9 A.M., 12 MIDDAY AND 3 P.M. PRAYER WAS HELD TO BE SPECIALLY EFFICACIOUS IF IT WAS OFFERED IN THE TEMPLE. SO, AT THESE HOURS MANY WENT TO THE TEMPLE COURTS TO PRAY. JESUS TOLD OF TWO MEN WHO WENT.

 

(1^ST) THERE WAS A PHARISEE. HE DID NOT REALLY GO TO PRAY TO GOD. HE PRAYEDwith himself. TRUE PRAYER IS ALWAYS OFFERED TO GOD AND TO GOD ALONE. THE PHARISEE WAS REALLY GIVING HIMSELF A TESTIMONIAL BEFORE GOD.

THE JEWISH LAW PRESCRIBED ONLY ONE ABSOLUTELY OBLIGATORY FAST---THAT ON THE DAY OF ATONEMENT. BUT THOSE WHO WISHED TO GAIN SPECIAL MERIT, FASTED ALSO ON MONDAY AND THURSDAY. THE LEVITES WERE TO RECEIVE A TITHE OF ALL MAN'S PRODUCE (NUMBERS 18:21; Deuteronomy 14:22). BUT THIS PHARISEE TITHED EVERYTHING, EVEN THINGS WHICH THERE WAS NO OBLIGATION TO TITHE.  HIS WHOLE ATTITUDE WAS NOT UNTYPICAL OF THE WORST IN PHARISAISM. THE PHARISEE DID NOT REALLY GO TO PRAY; HE WENT TO INFORM GOD HOW GOOD A MAN HE WAS.

 

(2^ND) THERE WAS A TAX-COLLECTOR.   HE STOOD AFAR OFF AND WOULD NOT EVEN LIFT HIS EYES TO GOD. THE KING JAMES VERSION AND THE REVISED STANDARD VERSION DO NOT EVEN DO JUSTICE TO HIS HUMILITY FOR HE ACTUALLY PRAYED,"O GOD, BE MERCIFUL TO ME-THE SINNER," AS IF HE WAS NOT MERELY A SINNER, BUT THE SINNER. "AND", SAID JESUS, "IT WAS THAT HEART-BROKEN, SELF-DESPISING PRAYER THAT WON HIM HIS ACCEPTANCE BEFORE GOD."

 

THIS PARABLE UNMISTAKABLY TELLS US CERTAIN THINGS ABOUT PRAYER.

(1^ST)NO PERSON WHO IS PROUD CAN PRAY. THE GATE OF HEAVEN IS SO LOW THAT NONE CAN ENTER IT EXCEPT ON THEIR KNEES. (2^ND) NO PERSON WHO DESPISES HIS FELLOW-SINNER CAN PRAY. IN PRAYER WE DO NOT LIFT OURSELVES ABOVE OTHERS. WE REMEMBER THAT WE ARE ONE OFA GREAT ARMY OF SINNING, SUFFERING, SORROWING HUMANITY, ALL KNEELING BEFORE THE THRONE OF GOD'S MERCY.

(3^RD)TRUE PRAYER COMES FROM SETTING OUR LIVES BESIDE THE LIFE OF GOD. IT ALL DEPENDS WHAT WE COMPARE OURSELVES WITH. WHEN WE SET OUR LIFE BESIDE THE LIFE OF JESUS AND BESIDE THE HOLINESS OF GOD, ALL THAT IS LEFT TO SAY IS, "GOD BE MERCIFUL TO ME-THE SINNER."

Life Application: What physical position do you take when you pray? I find myself talking with God the Father all during the day. I need His help and forgiveness all day long. But each day I find myself humbly on my knees before Him.

 

Praise/Prayer: My dear Father, I am so thankful that I can come to You in prayer anytime/all the time. My days just seem to be so full of my need to be so near to You. As I get older, I need the help of my Savior even more. I need Your companionship all day long because life gets so complicated. I love Your faithfulness. Amen!