Magnificent Prayer #165
Magnificent Prayer #165
God be merciful to me a sinner.
Luke 18:13 KJV
One of the best prayers ever offered is this prayer from a publican which Christ Himself lauded and held up as an example. In it there is no title, no “forever and ever, Amen,” but only the cry of one man’s broken heart over his sins.
HENRY WARD BEECHER
Pray About It: Possibly the best prayer we can ever pray is for God’s mercy. We are all in the position of the publican who went up to pray, and the only words he could come up with were those of a cry for mercy. In this story, Jesus said another man, a Pharisee, also prayed. His prayer was one of thanks that he wasn’t a sinner like the publican, but was quite religious. He boasted that he tithed of his income and fasted twice a week. But he was not commended for his prayer. Jesus in fact said that the publican “went down to his house justified,” rather than the religious Pharisee.
Praise God for His mercy to sinners today. Where would we be without it?
To have pardon extended from God to we sinners fills our heart and ravishes our soul! It gives a whole heaven of joy into our thoughts of salvation from sin, and deliverance from wrath to come.
JOHN BUNYAN
From the book
