God have mercy!
Do you know the most used word in the English language is? I. Yes, the singular pronoun referring to one’s self. That is telling isn’t it? We are all about ourselves. We think highly of ourselves. How often we look out for ourselves at the expense of others.
This week, Christians begin a six-week period of repentance, reflection and renewal. There are many different aspects of Lent. The overall thought is to recognize our sin, reflect on what our Savior did for us and have an attitude of humble repentance.
Each of us knows our own sin way too well. For each of us, in our own way, we need to repent of that sin of pride. We need to recognize the sin of being concerned only or primarily about self. We need to recognize that too often we have put ourselves ahead of God and made ourselves our own god.
Luke 18:13 records the humble, repentant words of the tax collector in Jesus’ parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector. They are good words for a Christian to begin any day with. They are especially appropriate for us to consider in the humble, penitential season of Lent. “God have mercy on me, a sinner.”
The verse leads us to recognize we have no right to stand before God because of our sin. The words show a total reliance on Jesus and what he did for us. Not only with his death on the cross to pay for our sins. Also with his perfect life to give to God what he demands and we cannot offer. They lead us to empty ourselves of self and to humbly recognize our total reliance on God.
We will have other opportunities over the next six weeks to step back and be reminded why Christians for centuries have the time for repentance and renewal.
God bless your Lenten season as you contemplate how Jesus had mercy on you, paid for your sins and won your salvation in heaven!