The righteousness of the blameless makes a straight way for them, but the
wicked are brought down by their own wickedness. ~Proverbs 11:5
To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everybody else, Jesus told this parable: “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself: “God, I thank you that I am not like other men—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector here. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.” 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.” I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” ~Luke 18:9-14
On the face of it, if you were to look at these two men, which one is the wicked one and which one is the righteous? The first man attends church, (or actually synagogue), every week. He’s dressed very nicely, not a wrinkle to be found. His reputation is impeccable. He’s known to pray and fast and give. He’s very highly respected by all!
The other man is known to steal from others. He hangs out with the low life. He’s known for throwing pretty elaborate parties with heavy drinking and bad behavior going on. He’s a wild man. Nobody likes him and he’s considered a traitor to his own country. Respectable people want nothing to do with him.
Well, if the proverb is true, one of these men is doomed for destruction and one of them is safe. Right? One of these men is doing everything God asks of him and one of them seems to be snubbing his nose at what God “requires?”
Then, like He always seems to do, Jesus turns the whole scene on its head. Why? Repentance. Repentance makes all the difference. The man who appears righteous in our eyes doesn’t need God’s help. He has it all under control and he’s pretty proud of it. The other man knows he’s lost. His plans aren’t working out like he thought they would. He knows he’s lost, so he stops and asks for help.
What does God think of us when we turn out all dressed and pressed and ready to impress for what we call our, “worship service?” What are we worshiping, really? What are we hiding behind our finely prepared selves? Are we really brokenhearted because our children are making bad choices? Are we struggling financially, but we don’t want anyone to know? Have we sinned, but are afraid to confess because we assume that the church is more ready to gossip than pray? Are we like the Pharisee who was intent on looking all together because he was afraid of man, and possibly believed his own press?
In truth, we are all tax collectors. Blessed are those who know it. We all deserve to be brought down by our own wickedness. We would like to think that we are righteous. We would like to believe that our paths should be straight, and in truth, in Christ, our paths will be made straight because of Him. However, underneath the fine clothes and the good deeds, we are blessed when we remember what we were and who we have become because of Him. We would all be brought down by our own wickedness except for His love, on the cross that cried out, “NO!” and chose to be brought down in our place. That enables us to relate better to the ones who still need to become aware because they are like we were before we knew.
The wicked are brought down by their own wickedness. What could be more wicked than self-righteousness and the self-deception that goes along with it? What will more surely lead to destruction than such blindness? The righteousness of the blameless makes a straight way for them. Who can be blameless other than those who trust in Christ for forgiveness? And it is He who makes us righteous and puts us on the straight way. Thanks be to God!
Prayer: Lord, help me to be sure that I am not blinded by a "plank" in my eye. I want to see clearly, first my own faults so that I want to repent, then your grace and mercy so that I can repent and find forgiveness in your Love. Help me to walk uprightly and treat my fellow humans with the same grace and mercy that you extend to me. In Jesus' name, amen.
Song: Love Lifted Me
To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everybody else, Jesus told this parable: “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself: “God, I thank you that I am not like other men—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector here. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.” 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.” I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” ~Luke 18:9-14
On the face of it, if you were to look at these two men, which one is the wicked one and which one is the righteous? The first man attends church, (or actually synagogue), every week. He’s dressed very nicely, not a wrinkle to be found. His reputation is impeccable. He’s known to pray and fast and give. He’s very highly respected by all!
The other man is known to steal from others. He hangs out with the low life. He’s known for throwing pretty elaborate parties with heavy drinking and bad behavior going on. He’s a wild man. Nobody likes him and he’s considered a traitor to his own country. Respectable people want nothing to do with him.
Well, if the proverb is true, one of these men is doomed for destruction and one of them is safe. Right? One of these men is doing everything God asks of him and one of them seems to be snubbing his nose at what God “requires?”
Then, like He always seems to do, Jesus turns the whole scene on its head. Why? Repentance. Repentance makes all the difference. The man who appears righteous in our eyes doesn’t need God’s help. He has it all under control and he’s pretty proud of it. The other man knows he’s lost. His plans aren’t working out like he thought they would. He knows he’s lost, so he stops and asks for help.
What does God think of us when we turn out all dressed and pressed and ready to impress for what we call our, “worship service?” What are we worshiping, really? What are we hiding behind our finely prepared selves? Are we really brokenhearted because our children are making bad choices? Are we struggling financially, but we don’t want anyone to know? Have we sinned, but are afraid to confess because we assume that the church is more ready to gossip than pray? Are we like the Pharisee who was intent on looking all together because he was afraid of man, and possibly believed his own press?
In truth, we are all tax collectors. Blessed are those who know it. We all deserve to be brought down by our own wickedness. We would like to think that we are righteous. We would like to believe that our paths should be straight, and in truth, in Christ, our paths will be made straight because of Him. However, underneath the fine clothes and the good deeds, we are blessed when we remember what we were and who we have become because of Him. We would all be brought down by our own wickedness except for His love, on the cross that cried out, “NO!” and chose to be brought down in our place. That enables us to relate better to the ones who still need to become aware because they are like we were before we knew.
The wicked are brought down by their own wickedness. What could be more wicked than self-righteousness and the self-deception that goes along with it? What will more surely lead to destruction than such blindness? The righteousness of the blameless makes a straight way for them. Who can be blameless other than those who trust in Christ for forgiveness? And it is He who makes us righteous and puts us on the straight way. Thanks be to God!
Prayer: Lord, help me to be sure that I am not blinded by a "plank" in my eye. I want to see clearly, first my own faults so that I want to repent, then your grace and mercy so that I can repent and find forgiveness in your Love. Help me to walk uprightly and treat my fellow humans with the same grace and mercy that you extend to me. In Jesus' name, amen.
Song: Love Lifted Me
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