[Jesus] told his next story to some who were complacently pleased with themselves over their moral performance and looked down their noses at the common people: "Two men went up to the Temple to pray, one a Pharisee, the other a tax man. The Pharisee posed and prayed like this: 'Oh, God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, crooks, adulterers, or, heaven forbid, like this tax man. I fast twice a week and tithe on all my income.' "Meanwhile the tax man, slumped in the shadows, his face in his hands, not daring to look up, said, 'God, give mercy. Forgive me, a sinner.'" Jesus commented, "This tax man, not the other, went home made right with God. If you walk around with your nose in the air, you're going to end up flat on your face, but if you're content to be simply yourself, you will become more than yourself."
Luke 18:9-14 The Message
There is a series of books about The YadaYada Prayer Group, it's the story of a bunch of women who went to a conference and all wound up in the same prayer group. If you looked up 'diverse' in the dictionary, the illustration next to it would be one of this imaginary group of women. Although light reading, it had some real nuggets in it; one of which was our text for today... And I've been thinking about it ever since.
...if you're content to be simply yourself, you will become more than yourself. Only God can take nothing and make the nothing something and even more... In the book, one of the women figured she was "ahead of the game" because she didn't drink, smoke or participate in whatever other sin du jour, and she tried to stay away from people who did. And lots of times, we get just like that. Well, at least I don't drink. No, but that's judging.
Scripture is very clear about telling us to not think more highly of ourselves than we should. In fact, we're to always prefer the other guy more than ourselves.
...if you're content to be simply yourself, you will become more than yourself.
Prayer:
Father,
I want so much to be more than just me, but not by my own actions or words. Father, Let my light so shine, LORD, that people will see YOUR good works in and through me and will glorify You. For You are SO Worthy! In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen
There is a series of books about The YadaYada Prayer Group, it's the story of a bunch of women who went to a conference and all wound up in the same prayer group. If you looked up 'diverse' in the dictionary, the illustration next to it would be one of this imaginary group of women. Although light reading, it had some real nuggets in it; one of which was our text for today... And I've been thinking about it ever since.
...if you're content to be simply yourself, you will become more than yourself. Only God can take nothing and make the nothing something and even more... In the book, one of the women figured she was "ahead of the game" because she didn't drink, smoke or participate in whatever other sin du jour, and she tried to stay away from people who did. And lots of times, we get just like that. Well, at least I don't drink. No, but that's judging.
Scripture is very clear about telling us to not think more highly of ourselves than we should. In fact, we're to always prefer the other guy more than ourselves.
...if you're content to be simply yourself, you will become more than yourself.
Prayer:
Father,
I want so much to be more than just me, but not by my own actions or words. Father, Let my light so shine, LORD, that people will see YOUR good works in and through me and will glorify You. For You are SO Worthy! In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen
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