Luke 18: Are You A Publican?
Verse of the Day: V10 “Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.”

1. Pray (V1-8)
V1 “And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;”

Jesus taught His disciples of a parable of a judge who feared not God and man, and refused to help a poor widow, yet finally acceded to her request for justice against her enemy, because she was so persistent in asking him for help. If an unjust judge could help a poor widow, how much more should we persist in praying to our God who loves us so much and shall surely hear and answer our prayers according to His will and for our good.

V7 “And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them?”
      
2. Publican (V9-34)
V10 “Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.”

Jesus taught His disciples of a parable of two men who went to the temple to pray; one a Pharisee, and the other a publican or tax collector who was despised by the people because as a Jew he was collecting taxes on behalf of the Romans and was seen as a traitor. The Pharisee prayed and boasted of how much he had done for God while the publican pleaded with God to have mercy on him. However, God forgave the publican because he was humble, but God did not forgive the Pharisee because he was proud.

V14 “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.”
 
3. Praise (V35-43)
V42 “And Jesus said unto him, Receive thy sight: thy faith hath saved thee.”

Jesus healed the blind beggar because he had great faith to believe that Jesus was the Son of David, and pleaded with Jesus to have mercy on him. After he received his sight, he immediately followed Jesus and glorified God. The people who witnessed the miracle also praised God. Indeed, let us praise God for who He is and what He has done for us.

V43 “And immediately he received his sight, and followed him, glorifying God: and all the people, when they saw it, gave praise unto God.”

Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, please humble me as I am a publican, a sinner, saved by grace.

Luke 16: Where Will You Go?
Verse of the Day: V23 “And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.”

1. Heart (V1-18)
V13 “No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.”

Jesus warned His disciple never to serve God and the world or the devil. Though they thought they could worship God publicly and sinned against God secretly, yet they failed to realise that God could see and know their hearts, and shall judge their sins and hypocrisy. We can only serve God because only He deserves our loyalty and devotion.

V15 “And he said unto them, Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God.”
      
2. Hell (V19-26)
V22 “And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried;”

Jesus taught the people of the life story of a rich man and a beggar named Lazarus. The rich man enjoyed his life of sins on earth but when he died he suffered in hell forever, while Lazarus believed in God and suffered on earth but when he died he enjoyed heaven forever. Let us choose to believe in God like Lazarus, because it is far better to suffer on earth and enjoy heaven forever, than to enjoy sins on earth and suffer in hell forever.

V23 “And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.”
 
3. Hear (27-31)
V27 “Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father’s house:”

The rich man begged Abraham to raise Lazarus from the dead, and sent him to earth to warn his five brothers to repent of their sins, and believe in Jesus, and escape fiery hell. However Abraham told him that if his five brothers would not hear Moses and the prophets, how would they hear from Lazarus even though he was raised from the dead?

V31 “And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.”

Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, thank You that I am going to heaven because I believe in You.