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Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Today's Frontline Devotion Thursday, March 4, 2004 A Valuable Gem |
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Frontline Devotion for Thursday, March 4, 2004, by Pastor Dave Sonnenberg
Bible text:
Luke 18: 9-14
I find today’s text to be a valuable gem. It teaches us something about prayer. It invites us to consider which character we identify with.
In the text, Jesus is telling the story of a Pharisee and a tax collector. A
Pharisee was a religious person who on the surface appeared to live a nice pious
life. He was what we would call a “good person”. Yet his prayer of thanks was
this - “I thank God I am not like this guy seated next to me.” Basically, his
prayer exposes his arrogance and insults God. His words, although honest, pick
on one of God’s created children. His prayer shows that he does not value the
person next to him. His prayer exposes him as being very self-centered. On
the other hand, the other man simply prays “Lord have mercy on me, a sinner.”
He simply recognizes his need for the power of God in his life. Nothing more
and nothing less. He doesn’t moan that others devalue him. His prayer isn’t
self centered. He simply honors God by showing he believes in his power to
extend undeserved love.
In this day and age, it can be easy to look around and offer prayers of
thanksgiving, which are actually judgmental prayers. “Thank God I’m not like
that.” I see Luke challenging that type of prayer and those types of attitudes.
Rather, he challenges us to pray - remembering first and foremost, the power
of God to heal us and grant us new life.
Lord God, you are the one who gives life and healing. Teach us to always turn
to you. You are the one to lift us from our sinful ways. You are the one who
can cleanse us from arrogant thoughts and actions. Grant us new life this day
so that we can love others. Amen.
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All are welcome to join and share in our Devotional Ministry on the "Frontlines" of the world. Frontline Devotions are sent via email daily. Sign up by clicking on the box to the left. Pastor Dave welcomes feedback. Contact him at pastordave@goodshepherdonline.org. |
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