Then Jesus told this story to some who had great confidence in their own righteousness and scorned everyone else: Two men went to the Temple to pray. One was a Pharisee, and the other was a despised tax collector. The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed this prayer: ‘I thank you, God, that I am not a sinner like everyone else. For I don’t cheat, I don’t sin, and I don’t commit adultery. I’m certainly not like that tax collector! I fast twice a week, and I give you a tenth of my income.’
“But the tax collector stood at a distance and dared not even lift his eyes to heaven as he prayed. Instead, he beat his chest in sorrow, saying, ‘O God, be merciful to me, for I am a sinner.’ I tell you, this sinner, not the Pharisee, returned home justified before God. For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”
Luke 18:9-14 [NLT]
Okay, the first thing that stands out to me in this passage is the NLT translation of the Pharisee's thanks to God that he "is not a sinner like everyone else." That's just a big ridiculous red flag to me. Hello! Although he was saved, he was by no means perfect. It seems obvious to me that even we, as Christians, are still sinners. God only chooses to see us as saints, but really we are unworthy. "I don’t mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me." Philippians 3:12 That is the humble example of how to view ourselves.
The next thing that catches my eye here is the Pharisee's list of holy deeds. He doesn't cheat, "doesn't sin," commit adultery...okay. But he also fasts twice a week and faithfully tithes. Even this prideful man takes two days out of his week to focus on God. Do I do that? He tithes. Do I? As much as I push myself to give a tenth of my everything to God, I often fail at something so simple. Not to compare my walk with God to his, but as far as faithful obedience goes, that Pharisee seems to have me beat.
My favorite part of this passage is the tax collector's approach to God. So sweetly humble, he couldn't even look up at God knowing he had sinned against Him. What a pure attitude.
While I am appalled at the Pharisee's pride, how often do I exude the same arrogant attitude? How many times have I watched others create meaningful moments with God, while telling myself my relationship with Him is just fine? How many altar calls have I ignored that God was calling me to answer?
My prayer is simply that although we Christians have been saved by grace, our relationships with God are growing, flourishing even, we never forget to pursue God with everything we have. That we are never satisfied, always thirsty for God's word, hungry for His presence. I pray that we humble ourselves, knowing that God will be faithful to exalt us. I pray for God to humble us if we become prideful in anything, especially our righteousness. I pray that we never forget that we are sinners washed clean by His blood, that we need Him always, and that time spent with Him will never be misused. I pray that we always remember that God will pursue us as we pursue Him. That He gives us strength and wisdom to become more like Jesus as we release our whole selves to Him. And that we hold onto the humble attitude of the tax collector as we grow with our loving and just Father every day.
building and standing on the only lasting foundation,
Emily
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