Voice: Hali
Today is Tuesday, 30th of June. Let’s gather our scattered thoughts and be still in His presence.
We pray:
Almighty and everlasting Father,
we thank you that you have brought us safely
to the beginning of this day.
Keep us from falling into sin or running into danger;
order us in all our doings;
and guide us to do always what is right in your eyes:
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Psalm 87
1 On the holy mount stands the city he founded;
2the Lord loves the gates of Zion
more than all the dwelling places of Jacob.
3 Glorious things of you are spoken,
O city of God. Selah
4Among those who know me I mention Rahab and Babylon;
behold, Philistia and Tyre, with Cush —
“This one was born there,” they say.
5And of Zion it shall be said,
“This one and that one were born in her”;
for the Most High himself will establish her.
6The Lord records as he registers the peoples,
“This one was born there.” Selah
7 Singers and dancers alike say,
“All my springs are in you.”
Glory to the Father, and to the Son,
and to the Holy Spirit:
as It was in the beginning, is
now, and shall be forever. Amen.
Luke 18:9-14
9He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt:
10“Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.
11The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector.
12I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’
13But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’
14I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”
This is the Word of the Lord
Thanks be to God
It is Sunday morning.
A well-dressed elder walked confidently into church. This was his second home. He knew every corner of the building and every face in the congregation. He had his usual pew, the one he had occupied for years. After all, he had served faithfully in this church and contributed generously to its ministry.
As he entered, he noticed an unexpected visitor.
He saw him. He smelt him.
The visitor looked uncomfortable and out of place. Unkempt after another long night, he quietly slipped into a seat near the back. There was still a faint smell of alcohol about him. He seemed desperate. Why else would he walk into a church?
The elder knelt in prayer, his knees resting comfortably on the beautiful cushions lovingly sewn by the church ladies. Yet his thoughts kept drifting to the visitor. Thankfully, the man was seated well behind him.
The service would begin shortly, but first came the familiar prayers of confession.
“Lord, I thank You that I am not like the people of the world.”
He thought about the difficult week he had endured at work. He remembered colleagues whose speech was littered with vulgarities and who casually used the name of his beloved Lord as a curse word. He thought about their crude jokes and careless lifestyles.
“Lord, You have given me strength to remain faithful. I am glad to be in church today. I thank You that I am not like them. I do not speak like them. I do not behave like them. And I am certainly not like that visitor sitting behind me. I am not even sure he deserves to be here in Your holy presence.
You know how faithfully I tithe. You know how much I support missions and serve in church. Bless me and my family, I pray. Amen.”
At the back of the church, the visitor also prayed.
He could barely lift his eyes toward the cross.
Tears streamed down his face.
“God, You know how I have messed up my life. I have made so many wrong choices. Please be merciful to me. If You are there and listening, please give me a second chance.”
Whose prayer did the Lord pay attention to?
Jesus said, “I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”
The Pharisee’s prayer was full of himself. The tax collector’s prayer was full of God.
One came to congratulate himself. The other came seeking mercy.
One left the temple exactly as he came. The other left forgiven.
The surprising truth is that it is possible to be in church, saying all the right words, and yet be far from God. It is also possible to arrive broken, ashamed and burdened by sin, and leave justified by His grace.
The doorway into God’s kingdom is lower than we think.
Only the humble can enter.
We pray the Collect for the Day:
O God, the protector of all who trust in you,
without whom nothing is strong, nothing is holy:
increase and multiply upon us your mercy;
that with you as our ruler and guide we may so pass through things temporal
that we lose not our hold on things eternal;
grant this, heavenly Father, for our Lord Jesus Christ’s sake,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
In closing, be blessed by this song, Sermon On The Mount by April Cheah
Blessed are the poor in spirit
Theirs is the kingdom of God
Blessed are the grieving acquainted with tears
For they will find Him near
Blessed are the meek and gentle
They shall inherit the earth
Blessed are the starving for justice and light
They shall be satisfied
Cause us to seek first Your kingdom
Teach us to carry Your peace
That we’ll be called children of God most high
All those who seek will find
All those who seek will find
Blessed are the mercy givers
They will receive it in turn
Blessed are hearts that are pure
They will see Your risen reality
Stir us to love like You love us
Free us to give what we keep
Knowing our Father sees the secret things
Our treasure is in the King
Our treasure is in the King
Lord speak to my worries and help cut me free
Of this bondage to comfort and vanity
When I see You again on that one final day will You know me
I want to know You
Will You know me
Help me know You
Blessed are the peacemakers
They are Yours for You call and they come
Those blessed to suffer for righteousness’ sake
Your kingdom is theirs to partake
Lead us to walk with the suffering
Restore us to choose the harder road
That we will hear and do the word of Christ
Your way alone leads to life
Your way alone leads to life
Cause us to seek first Your kingdom
Teach us to carry Your peace
That we’ll be called children of God most high
All those who seek will find
Treasures where You are cannot be destroyed
And Your way alone leads to life
Visit this link for more information about the song writer and message behind this song.
Daily Devotion 
Leave a comment