majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of
him and what came to my mind and heart in Luke 18:14b,
"All those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble
themselves will be exalted."
Luke tells us of a story Jesus provided for those who thought they
were doing pretty good before God and looked down on others. I refer
to this demographic as the "do-gooders". They set themselves to do all
the right things and maintain the expectation we all do likewise. In
the parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector we read of a
religious man who did all the right things. He prayed, he gave, and he
participated in spiritual disciplines such as fasting. He was relieved
he had escaped the entrapment of sin in his life and spoke to God of
such.
In contrast there was a man, a tax collector, given to sin. He knew he
was a sinner and not having done all the good things the "do-gooder"
had done, as the two were at the temple to pray, this sinner just
called out to God for mercy, "God, have mercy on me, a sinner." Jesus
said he wouldn't even look up to heaven but beat his breast and
acknowledged his sinfulness.
As Jesus gave the account of these two, he pointed to the tax
collector as the only one of the two who left the temple justified
before God. Why?
The issue of humility is cited by Jesus as the reason. Jesus said the
"do-gooder" was of those who were confident in their own righteousness
and looked down on others. His summation of the parable is, "All those
who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves
will be exalted." How did this Pharisee find himself to be in this
position? I suspect the very nature of things regarding those who
engage in activities as "do-gooders" leads to this end.
Why is it "do-gooders" do what they do? In their religious efforts of
pursuing spiritual disciplines and conduct they deem as that which is
necessary for God's approval, they set themselves to earning God's
acceptance. Perhaps they feel if they can just succeed in this or
that, they will grow in their spiritual maturity and standing. Having
achieved what they have set themselves to do, they now find themselves
potentially predisposed to look upon others who have not made the
effort, who have not denied themselves, who have not achieved what
they have.
The reality is that we are all sinners and hopelessly mired in our own
shortcomings before God. No matter how "spiritual" we may think
ourselves, "all our righteous acts are like filthy rags", Isaiah 64:6.
It took nothing less than God's own Son to come and pay the penalty
for all the sins of everyone. We need to recognize our shortcomings,
as did the tax collector in Jesus parable. As we do so it enables us
to see our need and reach out to God to be delivered from his own
justice for our sinful condition. When we place our faith in him, we
gain a good standing with God. This is the only way. As we do so in
faith, we find we achieve everything all of our "do-gooder" deeds
could not, "Now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been
made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This
righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who
believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of
the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the
redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented him as a sacrifice
of atonement, through faith in his blood." Romans 3:21-25.
This is the most wonderful news of all, wouldn't you agree?
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share
your thoughts of worship with us from your Bible reading today. We'd
love to hear from you!
Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com
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