Devotion Talk 12/6/07

Sorry about that. I've been forgetting recently.

Tonight I read Luke 18.

There are two messages here that I really want to make known...

The Parable of The Pharisee and the Tax-Collector: Wow. I love this parable because it tells us that if we believe that we can get to heaven on our own. It sort of reminds me of a quote that I analyzed in English class this week:

"Life is a series of experiences, each one of which makes us bigger, even though it is hard to realize this. For the world was built to develop character, and we must learn that the setbacks and griefs which we endure help us in our marching onward."

-Henry Ford

I strongly disagree with this quote. Henry Ford, I believe seems to be making it seem as if we can overcome obstacles in our lives on our own, which is what the Pharisee thought. I cannot believe why such a successful man cannot believe that the idea of a car was his own. God gave it to him so he could be great. When obstacles came his way, he figured that he was strong enough to overcome them on his own. The Pharisee believed he was greater than God. But, the tax-collector admitted his sin and " '...he who humbles himself will be exalted.' "

A Blind Beggar Receives His Sight: This is another great story of Jesus's great power, but I found something that is really great:

"42Jesus said to him, 'Receive your sight; your faith has healed you.' "

What exactly does this say? The way we can be healed of blindness or something of the sort is if we believe, if we trust and have faith in Jesus. If we don't believe he can heal us, he won't. This extremely important, as if we do not believe in Jesus, we will not go to heaven and not be healed.