“But the tax collector, standing some distance away, was even unwilling to lift up his eyes to heaven, but was beating his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, the sinner!’” Luke 18:13
This is one of my favorite stories in the Bible, and also the 1st passage I ever preached on. At its heart, it represents how a Christian MUST come before God. What do we bring to God? Anything? Unless we see God as He truly is, and become “undone” like Isaiah was (Isaiah 6:5) or like this sinful Publican, we have no right to appear before Him. It is Only because of what Jesus has been, and done, that even allows us into His presence. We need to emulate this Tax Collector much more than we do and learn from his posture before the Thrice Holy God!!!