The contrast of the two men in the parable of the “Two Men Praying” in Luke 18:9-14 was very apparent. The first man was proud of the accomplishments he had done for the Lord, but God wants us to come to him humbly knowing we are unable to be perfectly righteous without Him. Matthew 18:13 depicts the second man, a tax collector, and how he approached the presence of God. 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.’ Without God’s mercy and grace we are nothing more than a common sinner and we are unable to attain enough righteousness to fulfill any of the requirements needed to be in God’s presence. Let us be thankful on this Thanksgiving Day for God’s provision of eternal life through His precious gift of Jesus Christ His Son.