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A Heart That God Hears
Luke 18:9–14
In Luke 18:9–14, Jesus tells a powerful parable about two men who went to the temple to pray — a Pharisee and a tax collector. One man stood tall and confident in his own righteousness, listing his good deeds before God. The other stood at a distance, unable even to lift his eyes toward heaven, humbly confessing, “God, have mercy on me, a sinner.”
Jesus ends the story with a surprising conclusion: “I tell you, this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God.”
This parable reminds us that God is not impressed by our outward appearances, accomplishments, or status. He looks deeper into our hearts. The Pharisee’s prayer was filled with pride and comparison, while the tax collector’s simple cry was filled with humility and repentance. One trusted in himself; the other trusted in God’s mercy.
As believers, it’s easy to slip into the mindset of the Pharisee to measure our worth by what we do, how we serve, or how we compare to others. But Jesus calls us to a different posture: one of humility, honesty, and dependence on God’s grace.
When we come before God with a sincere heart, admitting our need and trusting His mercy, we are the ones who go home justified. True righteousness isn’t about what we achieve for God, but what God does in us through His grace.
Let us this week approach God’s presence like the tax collector: with humility, gratitude, and awe at His boundless mercy. For as Jesus reminds us, “Those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”
Prayer:
Lord, teach us to come before You with humble hearts. Forgive us for the times we have trusted in our own righteousness. Help us to rest in Your mercy and to walk in Your grace. Amen.
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