Apr 17 Deuteronomy 28:15-68 – Luke 18:1-30 – Psalm 47:1-9
Luke 18:11-13
The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’ But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’
Let’s not get caught up in how well we are doing compared to others. It never leads to anything good.
The Pharisee was so proud of his devotion to God he couldn’t see past it to where he lacked. He looked down on others and his heart was so caught up with religion it wasn’t open to God.
The tax collector was so upset about his sin, he couldn’t even look up. He was in a place where the truth of who he was was open to him and he knew, only God could make the difference.
If you had asked both of them after their time of prayer who was having the better day it would be the Pharisee. But really, the better day was had by the Tax Collector. Because He had encountered God in a real way. He was justified.
We must not get taken up with what we’ve done for God compared to others – that’s the road to pride.
