Bukittinggi - At prayer
Here is one man praying. Is he catching up on a prayer missed earlier in the day or does he have some special burden to bring to God?
He stands in an inconspicuous corner like the tax collector in Jesus' parable about two men at prayer: "... the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, 'God, have mercy on me, a sinner'."(Luke 18: 13) Of him, Jesus said: "... this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted". (Luke 18: 14)
• Ask that those who are aware of their shortcomings before God will cry out for His mercy and will find that sure and complete forgiveness Jesus offers them.
• For those who are confident that their regular attendance at daily prayer will win them their salvation, ask that God will humble them, show them that religious rituals are completely inadequate before a Holy God and reveal His radical solution.