Luke 18-A “Praying by Himself”

S = 18:9-14 “He 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. ¹¹ 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. ¹² I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’ ¹³ 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!’ ¹⁴ I 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.”

O = Amazing blind arrogance to be able to be in the presence of Jesus and think that they could trust in themselves for righteousness (hardened resistance to the Holy Spirit) and yet it is so common. Shocking insensitivity, leprosy of the soul, that they could show contempt to others they considered more sinful than themselves, rather than praying for God’s atonement to deliver the “sinners” from their slavery to sin…yet this still happens all the time. Perplexing that the self-trusting, self-righteous man prays by himself because he thinks none worthy of joining him, whereas the tax collector prays for mercy/atonement because he feels he is not worthy of God or others. He is the one whom Jesus declared to be justified…because he was in the presence of the Lord of mercy!

A = Why do I compare myself horizontally against the straw man of societally rejected sinners? It is not the standard of God! I may win all the horizontal comparisons that I spin in my favor, but it is the vertical judgment that holds weight. Do I trust in myself or cast all that I am on the mercy of God, that He might provide atonement for me? Through the whole Bible God lifts up the humble and humbles the proud. His heart is one of compassion towards the humble. Why would I think I can be justified in thinking, feeling, and acting any differently? This week I am determined not to trust in my own righteousness, but depend fully on Christ’s mercy. I will not stand in the exclusive club of myself and deny others access, but will reach out to include those around me, caring for them not just myself. I must start by humbling myself before Christ’s holy love. I myself need forgiveness! I determine today that I will truly pray, and not just be “caught monologuing” about how good I am and how messed up everyone else is.

P = O Lord, when I come into your presence I know I don’t deserve your love, but I receive it gladly, by faith! I desperately want to “go down” differently than I came up to meet with you. I want to allow you to change my heart, my mind, my affections, and my focus for your glory this week. Amen.