“To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else, Jesus told this parable: 10 “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 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. 12 I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’ 13 “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.’ 14 “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.” Luke 18.9-14
Notice that Jesus is offering this teaching to those “who were confident of their own righteousness and looked done on everyone else.” Have you been at this place in your life? Are you striving to be the person who is humble or are you viewing everyone through your own lens of devotion? Sometime we compare our selves to others, thinking we have it all right in our faith while others are failing. If thats the case, I would stop with the comparisons. If we don’t then we end up being on the losing end of that game because there is always someone further along then us who might make us look small and weak in our faith.
Jesus illustrates his point by highlight two types of people (men), one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. He might have well said one is a saint and the other a sinner! Everyone knows the stark difference between these two but Jesus turns every upside down. It’s not the righteous Pharisee who i justified before God – with all this religious practices but rather the sinful tax collector who admitted his sinfulness before the Lord. Sometimes we judge those closest to Christ as those who appear holy yet in truth it may be the wayward sinner who is closer to God’s kingdom.
The tell tell sign of those who will be justified by God are those who humble themselves. Those who do this will be exalted while those who exalt themselves will be humbled. For Jesus, the way up was down. For many young Christians, closeness to God does not reveal itself in church attendance, spiritual practices or right behavior. All of that can be deceiving. Micah 6.8 gets it right when the prophet writes, “He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.”
Perhaps today you are feeling full of judgement. You see others not as “good” as you or rather less than because they seem not to be living up to your standards. But let me remind us all– while man looks at the outward appearance, God looks at the heart. You never know where someone is in their relationship with God, just because they don’t look good doesn’t mean God is not doing a deep work in their life.
This is a word for me! I often question where people are with Christ. I can be judgmental by nature. It’s a reminder that the Lord is at work in this world and that I am not the Lord and Savior of anyone. Even in my work/ministry. I often doubt or trust God’s guidance. If I can’t see it, I don’t believe it. Lord, help my unbelief!
“Come now, Holy Spirit, fill me with your love and power. Help me see your truth and your grace. For you are good and your love endures forever.” Amen