I was just reading through the book of Luke in my devotional times. I just finished chapter 18, and there we find the prayers of two very different men – one is a Pharisee (a religious leader others looked up to) and the other is a tax collector (a despised man others looked down upon). You remember their familiar prayers: Pharisee = Thank you that I’m better than other men in all the wonderful things I do. Tax Collector = God, be merciful to me, a sinner!

As I reflected on this brief passage, many familiar thoughts came to mind about pride vs. humility, about who these prayers were directed to and which one went home justified. However, one word jumped out to me: “mercy.” Jesus’ point is about humility leading to exaltation (v.14), which he perfectly models (Phil. 2:5-11). What role does mercy have with this? Mercy is a cry for help. Mercy says I can’t do it on my own strength. A prayer for mercy flows from a broken spirit which is surrendered to God and prepared to do things God’s way. One who prays for mercy is no longer focused on themselves, but on the “God of mercy.” David grasped mercy (Ps. 51). Our Lord desires mercy (Matt. 9,12). And our God is rich in mercy (Eph. 2).

Am I a “man of mercy?” Is a cry for mercy what characterizes my prayers and attitudes? Have I been broken of my pride, of any comparing with others, and instead is my focus on the God of mercy whom I desperately need? Sobering thoughts that drive me to my knees. I was just reading through the book of Luke in my devotional times. I just finished chapter 18, and there we find the prayers of two very different men – one is a Pharisee (a religious leader others looked up to) and the other is a tax collector (a despised man others looked down upon). You remember their familiar prayers: Pharisee = Thank you that I’m better than other men in all the wonderful things I do. Tax Collector = God, be merciful to me, a sinner!