The tax collector . . . beat his breast, saying, "God, be
merciful to me a sinner!" Luke 18:13
Evangelist D. L. Moody once visited a prison called "The Tombs" to preach to the
inmates. After he had finished speaking, Moody talked with a number of men in their cells.
He asked each prisoner this question, "What brought you here?" Again and again
he received replies like this: "I don't deserve to be here." "I was
framed." "I was falsely accused." "I was not given a fair trial."
Not one inmate would admit he was guilty.
Moody finally found a man with his face buried in his hands, weeping. "What's wrong,
my friend?" he inquired. The prisoner responded, "My sins are more than I can
bear." Relieved to find at least one man who would recognize his guilt and need of
forgiveness, the evangelist exclaimed, "Thank God for that!" Moody then joyfully
led him to a saving knowledge of Christa knowledge that released him from the
shackles of his sin.
What an accurate picture of the two contrasting attitudes spoken of in Jesus' parable of
the Pharisee and the publican! (Luke 18:9-14). As long as the sinner claims innocence and
denies his sin before the Lord, he cannot receive the blessings of redemption. But when he
pleads guilty and cries out, "God, be merciful to me a sinner," he is forgiven.
In order to be found, you must first recognize that you are lost.
-RWD
Lost in the night, far from the light,
That's where the Lord found me;
Troubled within, and burdened with sin,
He saved and set me free.
-Peterson
To find salvation you must admit you are lost.