Luke 18:9-14 (click to view Scripture below)
[For the whole family]
In the Bible Jesus tells us this story about two men praying in the temple. One is sort of a bully — even in his prayer he puts others down, and he acts like he thinks he is “so great.” The other is humble and sincere. He comes before God with respect and humility asking God for mercy. Jesus says that God heard and answered the humble man’s prayer.
Chapel services in the ChildHope schools are something special. There is always a sweet prayer time. Children who live in very poor homes and neighborhoods come humbly—like the man in the story, on their knees, often crying — praying for a parent who needs work, or a grandmother who is ill, or even a brother who is involved in bad things like gangs or drugs. Just like the man in the story, God hears their prayers. They rise, wipe away the tears knowing God has heard them. Smiles on their faces, they walk out of chapel with hope in their hearts.
Mary Mahon
ChildHope Missionary to Costa Rica
Director of Chicas de Promesa
Discussion/Activity for the whole family: What does it mean to be humble? Write a letter to a student in a ChildHope school telling them you are praying for their family. Remind them in the letter that God hears their prayers.
Prayer: Lord, have mercy on us! Help us to always be humble with you and others.
See other devotionals in this series.
Luke 18:9-14 (ESV)
9 He 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. 11 The 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. 12 I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’ 13 But 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!’ 14 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.”
See other devotionals in this series.
Scripture quotations are from The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®),
copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
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