Common sense the knack of seeing things as they are, and doing things as they ought to be done. C.E. STONE
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To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everybody else, Jesus told this parable:
Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself: God, I thank you that I am not like other men, robbers, evildoers, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.
But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, God have mercy on me, a sinner.
I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted. LUKE 18:9-14 NIV
In the Gospel that bears his name, Luke sides with the people you would least expect to be winners. The prodigal son, a tax collector, little children, a blind beggar, and Zacchaeus another tax collector are some of the ones, who through their humble acts are mentioned in the book. I think that Luke knew from a personal point of view how the least expected could become winners. Luke was the only writer in the New Testament who was not a Jew. He was a Greek He was not one of the twelve. He came to know Jesus through his relationship with Paul or one of the many disciples. Through his faith came all the blessings of salvation by grace, healing, peace, and the many gifts of the spirit. Luke understood what it was like to be on the outside looking in, his heart wanted to be closer to the Father, so he made a decision to follow Jesus.
Tax collectors were hated by the Jews. Its as if they were working for the terrorist of the day. But yet this guy knew he had sinned and asked for mercy. How simple his prayer was, and so it is with us, God will answer our simple prayers when they come from the heart. Many in AA have come to the fellowship with one simple prayer on their lips, God help me. Like Dr. Luke wrote, He who humbles himself will be exalted. May I learn from Luke, who for a time was on the outside looking in. I am grateful because today God is doing for me what I could not do for myself .JRE
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Walk all the way with another person and with God. Do not go a part of the way and then stop. Do not push God so far into the background that He has no effect on your life. Walk all the way with Him. Make a good companion of God, by praying to Him often during the day. Do not let your contact with Him be broken for too long a period. Work all the way with God and with other people, along the path of life, wherever it may lead you.
HAZELDEN .Twenty-Four Hours A Day
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To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everybody else, Jesus told this parable:
Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself: God, I thank you that I am not like other men, robbers, evildoers, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.
But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, God have mercy on me, a sinner.
I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted. LUKE 18:9-14 NIV
In the Gospel that bears his name, Luke sides with the people you would least expect to be winners. The prodigal son, a tax collector, little children, a blind beggar, and Zacchaeus another tax collector are some of the ones, who through their humble acts are mentioned in the book. I think that Luke knew from a personal point of view how the least expected could become winners. Luke was the only writer in the New Testament who was not a Jew. He was a Greek He was not one of the twelve. He came to know Jesus through his relationship with Paul or one of the many disciples. Through his faith came all the blessings of salvation by grace, healing, peace, and the many gifts of the spirit. Luke understood what it was like to be on the outside looking in, his heart wanted to be closer to the Father, so he made a decision to follow Jesus.
Tax collectors were hated by the Jews. Its as if they were working for the terrorist of the day. But yet this guy knew he had sinned and asked for mercy. How simple his prayer was, and so it is with us, God will answer our simple prayers when they come from the heart. Many in AA have come to the fellowship with one simple prayer on their lips, God help me. Like Dr. Luke wrote, He who humbles himself will be exalted. May I learn from Luke, who for a time was on the outside looking in. I am grateful because today God is doing for me what I could not do for myself .JRE
***********************
Walk all the way with another person and with God. Do not go a part of the way and then stop. Do not push God so far into the background that He has no effect on your life. Walk all the way with Him. Make a good companion of God, by praying to Him often during the day. Do not let your contact with Him be broken for too long a period. Work all the way with God and with other people, along the path of life, wherever it may lead you.
HAZELDEN .Twenty-Four Hours A Day
