Good morning Lord Jesus, I set aside tie with You, to allow you to set me aside for your glory today.
I read this morning in Mark 2:13-17 the story of Jesus sharing a meal with Levi’s home with tax collectors and sinners. And the snobbish replies of the “church” people who witnessed this. I thought to myself, what a bunch of hypocrites! Then thoughts of a similar reply from a “church” person in Luke came to my mind and I turned to it.
“Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood and prayed about himself like this: ʻGod, I thank you that I am not like other people: extortionists, unrighteous people, adulterers - or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give a tenth of everything I get.ʼ The tax collector, however, stood far off and would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ʻGod, be merciful to me, sinner that I am!ʼ I tell you that this man went down to his home justified rather than the Pharisee.” (Luke 18:10-14)
This passage speaks to me, and it speaks to I would say most in the church in America. and it haunts me. Putting myself in the place of the Pharisee on my knees before God I would say, “I tithe consistently”. (But do I? Do I give God my first fruits or just my left overs after my personal purchases, vacation spending, and then give what is convenient to give. I need to look at my bank statements. Then an my knees I would say, “I attend church faithfully”. (But do I? or is it when there is nothing better going on that day, when I feel like it, or maybe I will sit and drink coffee and watch on line.) “I fast regularly in prayer.” ( But do I? If I look at my calendar and schedule, does it show I prioritize times I consistently and intentionally set aside regular scheduled days to fast? Hour slots set aside weekly to si,ply pray? (Look at your calendar and schedule where are they?) “I am a Christians.” A follower and imitator of Jesus. Yet how am I consistently imitating Jesus in picking up my cross and living a life of sacrificial love for my neighbors? Look in your heart.)
The Pharisee was not justified before God because he relied on his acts of righteousness instead of humility before God and used them to separate himself from his neighbors instead of serving his neighbors. However, at least he was honest, honorable, obeyed his covenant with God, obeyed God, and actually did what God required, though out of the wrong heart posture. At least he was actually faithful to his religion. If God did not justify the Pharisee, what does he think of me? As myself and most in the American church are even worse than the Pharisee! We have the same wrong heart posture, and we are faking our way of obeying God and posers as true practicers of our religion.
We do not have at least the integrity of the Pharisee or the broken humility of the tax collector. So where are we in this story when we come before God with our prayers?
Lord have mercy, Christ have mercy, Lord have mercy.
My family, I pray you read this passage of the words of Jesus. I pray you may not think this reflection applies to “someone else.” I pray you will join me with an honest heart and meditate what it would look like if Jesus spoke about you in these two stories, in Jesus name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you my friends!
I would love for you to please share your reflections with myself or others using the comment box below.
My wife Nancy and I are our tryin in our ministry of pouring completely into planting and growing simple house churches in our neighborhoods, and having “boots on the ground” serving in our community.. Please pray over this season in my life and that of my family. Please partner and support myself and One Direction community through setting up a monthly donation or a one –time gift by clicking the link below. Donation checks can be made out to ODC, PO Box 1293 Madison, Al 35758. Thank You Thank You!
