Note: Before I get started today, I want to share a link to a message I preached on Sunday. It was powerful. It was all about the grace of God. Please watch. Here is the link: https://youtu.be/A6okQXEV3WY?si=aAiwzpv1CCGfXngm
This morning, we continue our series on “The Parables of Jesus.” We will seek to glean “Pearls from the Parables.”
Before we get to the parable, let’s look at a scripture we have been looking at all year. This is something I believe the Lord wants us to meditate on.
(Psalm 126:4 TPT)
Now, Lord, do it again! Restore us to our former glory! May streams of your refreshing flow over us until our dry hearts are drenched again.
This is a season of refreshing and restoring for us.
(Luke 18:9-14 ERV)
9 There were some people who thought they were very good and looked down on everyone else. Jesus used this story to teach them:
10 “One time there was a Pharisee and a tax collector. One day they both went to the Temple to pray.
11 The Pharisee stood alone, away from the tax collector. When the Pharisee prayed, he said, ‘O God, I thank you that I am not as bad as other people. I am not like men who steal, cheat, or commit adultery. I thank you that I am better than this tax collector.
12 I fast twice a week, and I give a tenth of everything I get!’
13 “The tax collector stood alone too. But when he prayed, he would not even look up to heaven. He felt very humble before God. He said, ‘O God, have mercy on me. I am a sinner!’
14 I tell you, when this man finished his prayer and went home, he was right with God. But the Pharisee, who felt that he was better than others, was not right with God. People who make themselves important will be made humble. But those who make themselves humble will be made important.”
So, what does this mean to you today? A few things.
1. The Role of Grace in Righteousness.
— This parable highlights the central role of grace in achieving true righteousness. In my understanding, grace is more than just unmerited favor; it’s an empowering presence of God, enabling/empowering us to be who He created us to be.
— I’ve learned that grace is not about what we do but what Christ has done for us on the cross. This understanding liberates us from the burden of trying to earn God’s favor through our actions.
— Embracing grace means letting go of the illusion of self-sufficiency and self-righteousness. It’s acknowledging that our best efforts are insufficient without God’s grace.
— Grace leads to a life of gratitude and service, not a license to sin. True grace teaches us to live righteously, living godly lives in this present world.
— Understanding grace helps us extend grace to others, recognizing that we are all in need of God’s mercy. It fosters a spirit of forgiveness and patience with others’ faults.
— The story of the Pharisee and the tax collector reminds us that our standing before God is based on His grace, not our works. This story always reminds us to rely on God’s grace rather than our own righteousness.
2. The Judgmental Nature of a Legalistic Mindset.
— The Pharisee’s prayer is indicative of a legalistic (very religious) mindset, which judges others based on a set of standards or laws.
— Legalism focuses on external compliance rather than internal transformation. It fails to understand that true righteousness comes from a heart transformed by grace. It has to do with God and what He has done, not us and what we do or fail to do.
— Legalism creates a judgmental and condemning attitude towards those who don’t meet these standards, which is contrary to the love and compassion that Jesus taught.
— Legalism is contrary to the message of the gospel, which is about grace and redemption. The gospel invites us into a relationship with God based on His love and grace, not on our adherence to rules.
— Rules cannot make us right. All rules can do is show us how wrong we are.
— Legalism can lead to spiritual pride and a lack of compassion for those who struggle with sin. It blinds us to our own faults and failings.
— Jesus’ parable calls us to move away from legalism and toward a relationship with God based on grace and love. It’s a reminder to see ourselves and others through the lens of grace.
— We are reminded that our righteousness is like filthy rags before God and that we should extend the same grace we have received to others. This realization is humbling. If you truly embrace it, it will change the way you look at God, yourself, and others.
3. Cultivating a Grace-Based Mindset.
— A grace-based mindset fosters a spirit of humility and gratitude, recognizing that we are saved by grace through faith. It’s a constant reminder that everything we have and are is a gift from God.
— This mindset leads to a life of love and service, motivated by gratitude for God’s unmerited favor. It changes our motivation from trying to earn God’s favor to responding to the love and grace we’ve already received.
— Embracing a grace-based mindset helps us to see others through the lens of compassion and understanding. We become more empathetic to the struggles of others, knowing that we too are dependent on grace.
— It encourages us to be patient and forgiving, remembering how patient and forgiving God has been with us. This is the heart of the gospel – extending to others the grace we’ve received.
— A grace-based approach to life fosters unity and harmony within the body of Christ as we recognize our shared need for God’s grace. It breaks down walls of division and promotes mutual understanding.
— It challenges us to let go of judgmental attitudes and embrace the inclusive love of Christ. In doing so, we reflect the heart of Jesus to the world.
— Cultivating this mindset requires regular reflection on the nature of God’s grace and its impact on our lives. It’s a journey of continual growth and learning.
— As we grow in grace, we become more like Christ, extending love and forgiveness to those around us, just as we have received from God. This is the essence of living a life transformed by grace. This is #TheGraceLife.
Declaration of Faith:
Father, I declare that I am saved by Your grace, not by my works or efforts.
I acknowledge Your grace as the foundation of my righteousness and spiritual growth.
I renounce any legalistic tendencies within me, choosing instead to walk in the freedom of Your grace.
I commit to cultivating a grace-based mindset, recognizing the transformative power of Your unmerited favor.
Father, help me to extend the same grace and forgiveness to others that You have so generously given to me.
I embrace a life of humility and gratitude, continually reminded of the gift of Your grace in Christ Jesus.
I am committed to reflecting Your grace in my interactions with others, showing compassion and empathy as Jesus did.
I live a life that honors the grace You have bestowed upon me, using it as a catalyst for love and service.
I am grateful for the gift of Your grace, which continually shapes and molds me into the likeness of Your Son, Jesus Christ. Amen.
Living with this mindset, I know GREATER IS COMING FOR ME! I declare this by faith. In Jesus’ name, Amen!
This is Today’s Word. Apply it and prosper!
