The FaithOfJesus2 Daily Devotional

Focus:

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( FaithOfJesus thread begun by rRandyP )

Today's Verse:

kjv@Luke:18:9-14

kjv@Luke:18:9 @ And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others:

kjv@Luke:18:10 @ Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.

kjv@Luke:18:11 @ The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.

kjv@Luke:18:12 @ I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.

kjv@Luke:18:13 @ And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.

kjv@Luke:18:14 @ I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

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Today's notes:

Context:

• Before - Luke:18:1-8 The Parable of the Persistent Widow
  
• After - Luke:18:15-17 The Little Children and Jesus
  

Study Resources:

G1342 righteous/innocent G1848 despise/contemptible

G1344 regard just/innocent

G5312 exalt/lift up G5013 humble/depress

dict:torrey Justification

Notes:

I find the phrase "prayed with himself" curious. Who else would be listening to such a self convincing one sided dialog? There are many many people that believe it this way. Justification is something they are by nature or have done by their works and have earned by their group affiliation. For that we all (even God?) should be thankful?

What justification is however really has nothing to do with us other than us accepting the predicament that we are in and the offer freely chosen by God to establish a acceptable means by HIS righteousness to offer reconciliation void of our corrupted effort towards a total and just atonement. Instead it has everything to do with Jesus the Christ. The Christ was the plan from the beginning. Okay, so in your favor you tithe and fast and manage to lead a zealously clean life; where then is the Christ? The Christ is you and my friend you fall entirely short of God's Christ imparted justification; it is not His justification upon you it is your justification upon yourself.

We have considered God's avenging righteousness, most of the human opposition emanating from the religious. We have talked of the coming kingdom and swift judgment, that people will be unawares/marrying/festive as if everything is alright. We have pondered the mathematical probabilities of how many having received God's tangible mercies turning back to glorify the actual "Mercy Giver". Think how far we go back into this chain of thought to realize that there is very little that we haven't reduced and minimized and compartmentalized and confiscated and corrupted and self justified and ...? Turning instead to criticize, criminalize, persecute, slander, marginalize, ostracize, mock and murder, all that God has put forth as HIS means of justification. Our justification is rather a slap in the face of God's. What should make us think that there is anything in ours resembling HIS? OR does it even matter.

The publican prayed standing afar off this says. How far off might we be standing without realizing it. He would not even lift his head to heaven because he knows himself to be a sinner. A sinner in what respect? Tithes? Fasts? Adultery? Or sinner like all sinners that has fallen short of the glory of God, hardened for so long against the calling of grace and requires the blood of his Christ to purchase him back and cleanse him.

Key Messages:

Declaring Certainty

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Further Resources:

Comment Board:Luke:18:9-14
index:FAITHOFJESUSDEVOTION - Devotional Index
strkjv@Luke:18:9-14 rwp@Luke:18:9-14 mhcc@Luke:18:9-14
FaithOfJesus2 - Devotion Index

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