Title: Have Pity, O God
Contents
December 11th Sunday Day Worship <God, have mercy on me> (Luke 18:9-14)
There is a doctor named David Pink, world-renowned in the field of mental hygiene. This person said that mental stability is important, and he said a few things about it. It is said that this spiritual stability is more important than economic and political stability. This man said that there must be four beats for this, and he said work, play, love, and worship. And he said that the root of it is worship. This person is only a scholar and professor, but he said that if the fundamentals of this worship are not properly established, stability in life cannot be achieved.
Today's Bible tells the story of two worshipers. He looked at the Pharisees and the publicans and said that Jesus was justified, not as a Pharisee, but as a tax collector. If this had been a fictional story, Jesus would have been taken right away by the Pharisees, but Jesus was a well-informed man, and when he heard what was going around, he said: If the words of the Good Samaritan that Jesus spoke were also contrived, they would have been stoned to death immediately for insulting the priests. But Jesus spoke the truth as it was. If this had happened back then, there will certainly be people worshiping like the Pharisees and tax collectors today.
Today, this publican stood far away and did not dare look up to the sky and prayed while beating his chest. In fact, the tax collector would have been upset. Would you stand still as you listen to the sound of beating you down? But this publican is silent and just listening. If you look at them normally, it's okay. But the tax collector only beat his breast and prayed, "God, have mercy on me, I am a sinner." I don't care what other people say, I just beat my chest without saying anything. I have nothing to say. Jesus sees this and says: Comparing the unparalleled Pharisee and the publican, he says that this man, the tax collector, was justified and went home. Those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves before God will be exalted. A true worshiper's attitude consists in kneeling cleanly before God.
If you think about the past times God has given you, you must have done quite well. However, they do not remember anything before God and simply confess that they are sinners. When you kneel before God, God will exalt you. Jesus says: Those who exalt themselves before God will be humbled by God.