Pit Archives - Pastor Terry Lema's Daily Devotions

I took a couple psychology classes in college. One particular one has always remained with me, that was when we studied sympathy and empathy.

Sympathy: an affinity, association, or relationship between persons or things wherein whatever affects one similarly affects the other.

Empathy: the action of understanding, being aware of, being sensitive to, and vicariously experiencing the feelings, thoughts, and experience of another of either the past or present without having the feelings, thoughts, and experience fully communicated in an objectively explicit manner.

Well, that’s clear as mud. And I am not sure how helpful either are when I am in deep trouble. That is why I love Psalm 40, especially verses 2 and 3.

“He brought me up from a desolate pit, out of the muddy clay, and set my feet on a rock, making my steps secure. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God.” [HCSB]

Our LORD reaches down and brings us up, sets our feet on a rock, makes our steps secure and even puts a song in our heart. He doesn’t just lean over the pit we are in and holler down instructions on how to get out!

I laugh as I think about how often I have dug myself a pit that I can’t get out of. I can see my Father in heaven looking down and saying something like, “Child, are you in that pit again? Didn’t I just get you out of it last week? All right, give me your hand – up you come!”

Thank you, LORD. Today I focus on Your amazing love that lifts me out of those pits I often find myself in. I praise You for pulling me up, setting my feet on My Rock, and making my steps secure. I lift my song of thanksgiving and praise to You! Amen

The riches found in Luke 18! In that beautiful chapter we find the Parable of the Persistent Widow, which re-emphasizes the need to be persistent in prayer. Jesus also welcomes the children who are brought to Him and reminds us that we are to be like little children in welcoming the kingdom of God.

Then there are two interactions. The first with the Rich Young Ruler and the second with a blind man who loudly asks Jesus to restore His sight.

If you have read the chapter, you know I skipped over the Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector [vs 9-14].

Jesus speaks of two men who went into the temple complex to pray. The first, a Pharisee, reminds God that “I’m not like other people—greedy, unrighteous, adulterers or even like this tax collector.”

The second man is that tax collector. His reaction to God is completely different. “God, turn Your wrath from me—a sinner!”

Jesus tells His listeners that the tax collector went home justified rather than the Pharisee “because everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”

Oh, precious LORD, how often we are more like that Pharisee than we are the tax collector! We look at others who do not hold our viewpoint on so many things and we say, “I’m glad I’m not like other people …!” And, yet, with that attitude we are.

I will probably offend many when I say this, but there are far too many Pharisees in the church today. God is calling us to remember the pit from which we have been dug … and to pray for those who do not know Christ Jesus as Savior and LORD.

Psalm 40:1-3: I waited patiently for the LORD, and He turned to me and heard my cry for help. He brought me up from a desolate pit, out of the muddy clay, and set my feet on a rock, making my steps secure. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the LORD. [HCSB]

Pit

Holler Down Instructions!

“I’m not like other people ….” (Luke 18)