S. O. A. P.

Here’s Your 90 second AM Devotional!

S-cripture:

Luke 18:13

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.”

O-bservation:

In this short story of two men praying, one is a Pharisee, known as a religious man who turned out to be very PROUD of his prayer life. He was great at letting people know how Righteous he was. The other was a tax collector who people hated. He wouldn’t even go into the temple, but would stand outside beating on his chest, begging God for mercy on his wretched soul.

A-pplication:

In this story Jesus acknowledged that the lousy tax collector had actually offered “The Prayer Of A Righteous Person!” What was it that impressed Jesus? The same thing that impressed Jesus then is what still impresses Him today. This man cried to God with a “Desperate Honesty.” This kind of desperation gets God’s attention. Nothing has changed today. The cry of a desperately honest man or woman will always be seen by Jesus as “The Prayer Of A Righteous Person.”

P-rayer:

Dear Jesus,

I’m much more aware of my sin and failure than I am of any possible righteousness. However, I long to be the man You have in mind for me to be! Please hear my desperate cry this AM! Amen