We must humble ourselves
9 “And He also told this parable to certain ones who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and viewed others with contempt:
10 “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee, and the other a tax-gatherer.
11 The Pharisee stood and was praying thus to himself, ‘God, I thank thee that I am not like other people: swindlers, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax-gatherer.
12 ‘I fast twice a week; I pay tithes of all that I get.’
13 “But the tax-gatherer, standing some distance away, was even unwilling to lift up his eyes to heaven, but was beating his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, the sinner!’
14 “I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself shall be humbled, but he who humbles himself shall be exalted.” Luke 18:9-14 NASV
God is not looking for a person who thinks they are so righteous that God can actually use them. All of our righteousness will always come short of God’s standard. Jesus is not looking for a prideful person but for a humble person who realizes that they come short in their own righteousness and thus must rest in God’s mercy and grace! Those who rest in their own righteousness are often very judgmental toward others. God is less concerned about our outward acts and religious activity than He is about our hearts being totally devoted to and in love with Him as well as loving one another. If our hearts are right then our outward actions will follow. If we sin, Jesus is right there to forgive us when we confess and help us to overcome our sin.
If we exalt ourselves in our hearts as being such a great person of God and so much more righteous than other people, God will humble us! This is a promise all throughout scripture. Many leaders have been humbled and exposed, not so much for the sin that they were exposed for, but rather because they had become so prideful. Pride is an evil sin, which God hates more than we could ever understand. That is also why our salvation from beginning to end and all that we do for God is only by the grace God provides. Any ability from ourselves will always come short!
Thank you God for your amazing grace and for loving us so much! Thank you Jesus for your gift of righteousness and for taking our sin! Thank you for bringing us into the family of God and giving us every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places!
Ted Parks, servant of Jesus Christ
previous Light the Fire writtings