Luke 18:13 “God, have mercy on me, a sinner!”
The tax collector neither defended himself nor compared himself to others; he simply stood before God and acknowledged his needs. Pastor Zhang Peiqian reminds us that faith is not about proving ourselves right, but about acknowledging that we cannot live without God. Often, I am more concerned with whether my stance is correct or my judgment is reasonable, neglecting humility before God. What truly justifies a person is not how spiritual they are, but whether they are willing to relinquish self-righteousness and simply cry out for God's mercy.
Lord, forgive me for often using faith to prove and exalt myself, yet rarely coming before You with the sincerity of a tax collector. Today, I do not wish to conceal my weakness, nor to defend myself, but simply say: have mercy on me, a sinner. Guard my heart, that I may live in grace, not in self-righteousness; grant me a deeper understanding of my limitations each day, and a deeper reliance on Your infinite mercy. Amen.