Thank You for Contrast
“And He also told this parable to some people who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and viewed others with contempt: ‘Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood and was praying this to himself; ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other people: swindlers, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I pay tithes of all that I get.’
“’But the tax collector, 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!’ I tell you, this man went to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled but he who humbles himself will be exalted.’” Luke 18:9-14
The contrast between individuals has been around since Cain and Able. One person sees themselves as good and doing the right things, the other is aware they are lacking and helpless against their sin nature. This parable reminds us of God’s perspective: He looks at the heart and knows it is desperately evil. Keeping the law, doing good things, going to church, giving to the poor is never enough. Sin festers in our hearts in thought, word and deed.
God demands complete perfection, yet realising that is not possible for us, provides another way. It takes humbling ourselves and admitting we are incapable of living right. When we do, God instantly declares us forgiven and fully justified (just as if we had never sinned).
In this parable, the Pharisee believes he is superior because he kept the law obsessively and saw himself as more righteous than the humble tax collector. But this is the hope that damns everyone (Romans 10:3, Philippians 3:9). The law exists to point us to the truth of our lives.
Each one us must personally recognise, accept and admit our inability to live a ‘good’ life and ask Jesus to forgive us. He paid for all our sin by His death and resurrection. Once we trust in that truth and admit we cannot earn His forgiveness by our actions, God forgives us and forever more sees us as perfect because Jesus’ perfect righteousness ‘covers’ us.
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Take care with love, especially His, from Darlene, who still prays for you each day.
PS: You can also find the devotions on line/ on your mobile phone here: www.weakdaydevotion.com .
NOTES: I choose to believe the Bible because it's a reliable collection of historical documents written down by eyewitnesses during the lifetime of other eyewitnesses. They reported supernatural events that took place before, of specific prophecies; and claim that their writings are divine rather than human in origin.
The Five Solas: Individuals are saved by grace alone, through faith alone in Christ alone, as revealed by Scripture alone to the glory of God alone!
Find my full statement of faith: https://especiallyhislove.blogspot.com (where you will also find a series of Bible studies). For the books, go to Amazon books. For prayer requests/ updates, email: darlenerichard@gmail.com