What shall I do to be saved? : words of advice, warning, and encouragement to the unsaved, pointing out the way to salvation, and the requirements necessary to obtain it by Byrum E. E. (Enoch Edwin) b. 1861

Author:Byrum, E. E. (Enoch Edwin), b. 1861
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Tags: Conversion, Salvation
Publisher: Moundsville, W. Va. : Gospel Trumpet Pub. Co.
Published: 1903-10-11T05:00:00+00:00

THE PUBLICAN AND THE PHARISEE PRAYING.

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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 ex-alteth himself shall be abased; and he that hum-bleth himself shall be exalted.'' Luke 18: 10-14.

Jesus in speaking of those two men was aiming to impress upon the minds of the people the difference between those who trusted in themselves and in their own righteousness and despised others, and some of those whom they despised The Pharisee had only what we would call an empty profession of religion and gloried in his good works. He told how often he fasted, and said that he gave tithes of all that he possessed. But Paul says: "Though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing. '' 1 Cor. 13:3.

A man may even give all his goods to the poor, and yet not be charitable in the sense of what is required in the salvation of Jesus Christ. The charity necessary is that of the love of God in the heart. People who give for fame, to be seen

of others, for self-exaltation or grudge, will not receive the reward of the righteous. They, whose motives and hearts are like those of the Pharisee receive only a Pharisee's reward.

Now consider the prayer of the publican. He was despised of the Pharisee. He felt humble in the sight of God. On account of his sins and wickedness conviction rested upon him. He felt so unworthy that he would not lift up his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying: "God be merciful to me a sinner. ,, Now hear the words of Jesus: "I tell you this man went down to his house justified rather than the other/ f

God hears the prayer of the humble, and those are the kind that are answered. It is not the long, smooth, flowery prayers that are most effectual, but it is the one that expresses the sentiment of the heart in humble submission to the will of God, begging mercy and compassion. These are prayers that reach the throne and re-ceive the desired help from the Lord.

ZAOCHAEUS.

"And Jesus entered and passed through Jericho. And, behold, there was a man named

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