MAY 28, Luke 18:10-14

“The milk tasted terrible!” As Sarah thought about it, she remembered that as Mother left for the grocery store, she had mentioned that the milk was turning sour. “Well, now what?” thought Sarah. Then she had an idea. If I add some chocolate, it will cover the sour taste, she thought. She got out a can of powdered chocolate drink and spooned some of the sweet mixture into the milk. She licked her finger where a little of it had stuck. “Mmmm, good!” she thought. But after taking a big gulp of the chocolate milk, she groaned. It still tasted awful!

Later that morning, Sarah skipped off to her Bible class. She listened carefully as Mrs. Lin shared a story Jesus had told. “Two men went into the temple to pray,” began Mrs. Lin. “One a Pharisee – a man who did many good deeds and went to the temple often. The other a dishonest tax collector. The Pharisee prayed first, telling God that he was glad he was good and not bad like the other man. He reminded God of all the good he did.” Mrs. Lin paused and looked around at the kids. “Now let me tell you about the tax collector. He didn’t even lift up his head. He just cried out to God, pleading for forgiveness from his sins. Guess what Jesus said? Jesus said that the tax collector, and not the Pharisee, went home ‘justified’ or forgiven. The tax collector knew that only God could take away his sins, but the Pharisee was trying to cover up his sins with good deeds. He was really not a good man at all. He was proud and haughty – a sinner just like the tax collector. His good deeds didn’t change his sinful heart.”

As Sarah listened, she smiled and nodded. She remembered the sour milk, and she understood that good things don’t necessarily cover up the bad. Good chocolate hadn’t covered the bad taste of the sour milk, and good deeds wouldn’t cover up sin. “Only Jesus can forgive sin,” she thought, “I’m going to remember that.”

Thought: Do you: Obey your parents? Behave politely? Help with the chores? Go to church? But even if you do these things, without accepting the Lord Jesus, God says you are still a sinner. You can only be saved and your sins forgiven, if you accept the Lord Jesus as your personal Lord and Saviour.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, I am an undeserving sinner saved only by Your grace. Thank You for grace and mercy shown towards me. In Jesus name I pray. Amen.