๐๐๐ฅ๐ฅ๐๐ฒ ๐๐ฅ๐๐ฏ๐๐ฌ The great "prince of preachers" Charles Haddon Spurgeon used to tell the story of a duke who boarded a galley ship and went below to talk with the criminals manning the oars. He asked several of them what their offenses were. Almost every man claimed he was innocent, blaming someone else or accusing the judge of taking a bribe. One young fellow, however, replied, "Sir, I deserve to be here. I stole some money. No one is at fault but me. I'm guilty." Upon hearing this, the duke shouted, "You scoundrel, you! What are you doing here with all these honest men? Get out of their company at once!" The duke ordered that this prisoner be released. He was set free, while the rest were left to tug at the oars. The key to this prisoner's freedom was his admission of guilt. That's also true in salvation. Until a person is willing to admit, "I am a sinner in need of salvation," he cannot experience freedom from guilt and condemnation. Have you ever said, "I plead guilty"? If not, do so right now. You can never save yourself, so receive the Lord Jesus as your Saviour by placing your trust in Him. Then, once you are set free from sin's guilt and power, you will know the joy of forgiveness and freedom. Sin brings fear; confession brings freedom. Luke 18:9-14 The Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else, Jesus told this parable: "Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: 'God, I thank you that I am not like other people - robbers, evildoers, adulterers - or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get. "But 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. "I tell you that 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." #gcstips #gcsreflection https://www.instagram.com/p/CmKgRvEohtP/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=
