Re:Verse passage – Luke 18:9-14 (day two)
But the tax collector, standing some distance away, was even unwilling to lift up his eyes to heaven, but was beating his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, the sinner!’ vs. 13
Re-read that verse again with a 2020 pandemic gaze. Did you see it? First century social distancing, who knew?! With all the political ramification of what I just wrote aside, let’s focus for a minute on the heart of this tax collector. The shame of sin is an incredible burden to bear; particularly for those who know they were made for more. If you are walking in a season of disobedience you likely don’t have to be told. You wear it around your shoulders like a harness. Marley’s ghost would say to Scrooge “it is a ponderous chain”. But believers must not let the shame of sin be the end of the story. Jesus clearly states that the man that laid that burden down went home justified. Isn’t it time to release that burden? If the yoke of sin is heavy, Jesus offers one that is easy.
But the tax collector, standing some distance away, was even unwilling to lift up his eyes to heaven, but was beating his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, the sinner!’ Matthew 11:28-30
