The Pharisee and the Publican – Stepping in the Light

“Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.” Luke 18:10-14

The Pharisees were highly religious and commanded a great deal of respect from their peers. The publicans were Jews who collected taxes on behalf of the Roman government, and they were known for taking a hefty portion of the money they collected for themselves. Because of this, the publicans were hated and despised. In this parable, Jesus helps us to see the importance of humility before God. The Pharisee thought he was a very good person, but the Lord would not hear him. In contrast, the publican saw himself as totally unworthy. He stood far away from the temple because he thought that he was not good enough to even get close to it. He kept his head bowed as he prayed, admitted that he was a sinner, and asked God for mercy. Jesus said that this man went to his house justified rather than the other. Which one of these men can you relate to the best? Are you proud or humble in your approach to God?

Morning: II Samuel 19-20

Evening: Luke 18:1-23

About This Site

“Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” Psalm 119:105

If you were to find yourself walking down a path in the dark of night with only an old-fashioned lantern to light the way, you wouldn’t be able to see very far ahead. You would be able to see just enough of the pathway to know which direction to take your next step and enough of the ground to choose the best place for your feet. When it comes to our daily lives, God’s Word is a lot like that lantern. It will not show us the whole path at once, but it is exactly what we need to help us decide how to take the next step.

The Bible is our source of spiritual light, and if we consistently seek God’s direction as we read from its pages, we will always have enough light for our next step along the pathway of life. It is then that we are, in the words of an old gospel song, “stepping in the light.”

The goal of this devotional guide is to encourage you to spend time in the Word of God each day. Reading the passages listed at the bottom of the page will take you all the way through the Bible in one year. The devotional thought for each day is taken from a text within that day’s reading, so even that small daily portion of reading will take you on a journey through God’s Word. It is my prayer that this guide would help you to walk closer to the Lord and that you will find yourself taking each step in the light of His Word.