18
Humbleness
Jay MiuraLuke 18:9He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt: 10“Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.11The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed[a] thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector.12I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’13But 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!’14I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”
Humble or humbled. Which one do I want to be. In this section we see Jesus teaching some selfrighteous onlookers a tough lesson. The issue of pride is what was being addressed and the lesson taught, is that God is the one who does the exalting.
Not thinking too highly of myself, and putting others before me, will help to keep us from falling into the mode of selfrighteousness and pride. But Knowing God and how much God thinks of me, enables me to have a correct understanding of who I am and have a correct comparison point for my life. We treat others poorly or with contempt because we are compareing ourselves to antother imperfect sinful human being. That is a trick that is from the enemy. We see it all over the place, where the world says compare your wealth, your achievements and your worth to others in this world. But in all truth God says none of that is really matters and I am the one that you should use as a perfect model. When we start to understand the majesty of the one in whom we were created by and in the image of, we start to use the right comparrison point for our lives. God is our true north.
Heavenly Father, thank you for your love and grace on my life. Please forgive me for at times comparing myself in the ways of this world. Please help me to remember that you and you alone are the one who gives me worth and that you and you alone are worthy of my praise. I love you Lord. In Jesus name I pray amen
