Conversion – from sinfulness to righteousness (2) - All The Good Seed Daily Devotionals for 2026

The tax collector, standing afar off, beat his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. This man went down to his house justified.
Luke 18:13.14

Conversion - from sinfulness to righteousness (2)
The parable that Jesus Christ told in Luke 18 states that "two men went up to the temple to pray" (v. 10). One was a Pharisee who adhered strictly to the law, the other a tax collector ever ready to cheat the public. The Pharisee's prayer was an appraisal of his self-righteousness and a harsh criticism of the tax collector. The latter found nothing good to say about himself, but could only appeal to God's mercy. The Lord Jesus added His own comment to the narrative: that the tax collector left the temple as a righteous man; the Pharisee was humiliated through his pride and self-exaltation.

Jesus Christ has the power to forgive sins cf. (Luke 5, 24). Whoever turns to Him for forgiveness is "justified by faith" (Romans 5, 1). What a transformation this is! Guilt is atoned for through His death on the cross. Those who confess their sins before Him can henceforth be declared righteous. They have learned the horror of sin and seek to lead their lives righteously in order to glorify Him who died for them.

This desire, however, can be realised only in dependence on His grace. The wish to live uprightly is present, but how often the strength is lacking! Yet that power is available in the Saviour Himself. The apostle John wrote: "Let no-one deceive you. He who practises righteousness is righteous, just as he (i.e. Christ) is righteous" (1 John 3, 7).

May He grant us the needed strength to live for Him! What a testimony that proves to be for the world around us!

(to be continued on Monday)