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. Don’t Be Self-Righteous.
Paul said, “God has given me grace to speak a warning about pride. I would ask each of you to be emptied of self-promotion and not create a false image of your importance. Instead, honestly assess your worth by using your God-given faith as the standard of measurement, and then you will see your true value with an appropriate self-esteem.” (Romans 12:3 TPT).
— The Pharisee in the parable exemplifies self-righteousness, believing his own actions make him superior to the tax collector and others.
— Self-righteousness blinds us to our need for God’s grace and can lead us to judge others harshly.
— It creates a false sense of spiritual security based on our works rather than God’s grace.
— This mindset is contrary to the Gospel, which teaches us that we are saved by grace, not by works.
— The danger lies in becoming complacent in our spiritual walk, thinking we have ‘earned’ God’s favor.
— We must continually examine our hearts to ensure we aren’t falling into the trap of self-righteousness.
— God desires a contrite and humble heart, one that relies on His righteousness, not our own.
— We are not righteous because of what we do or what we fail to do. If we are righteous in God’s sight, it is only because of what Jesus did for us. Therefore, we have nothing to boast about!
2. The Power of Genuine Repentance.
— The tax collector’s prayer is a model of genuine repentance and humility. It was short, honest, and transparent. This is how we should be with God. When we pray, we don’t need long, drawn-out prayers full of fluff. God already knows our hearts.
— True repentance involves acknowledging our sinfulness and total dependence on God’s mercy.
— It’s not about eloquent words but a sincere heart that seeks forgiveness and change.
— Genuine repentance leads to a change in our actions and attitudes, aligning them with God’s will.
— This humility in prayer is pleasing to God and is the first step towards restoration and healing. You cannot fix an issue you are not willing to acknowledge. Genuine repentance requires acknowledging your shortcomings before God.
— Through repentance, we experience the fullness of God’s grace and forgiveness.
— Our humility in acknowledging our sins and shortcomings opens the door for God’s redeeming work and the door for grace/favor.
3. Choose Servanthood Over Status.
Jesus said, “The greatest among you will be the one who always serves others. Remember this: If you have a lofty opinion of yourself and seek to be honored, you will be humbled. But if you have a modest opinion of yourself and choose to humble yourself, you will be honored.” (Matthew 23:11, 12 TPT).
— The world today is full of hard-chargers, go-getters, and hyper-ambitious people who are seeking money, fame, status, and power. This is the polar opposite of what Jesus taught.
— Jesus certainly wants us to have positions of influence. He wants us to affect (with effect and influence) the people and systems of this world. But He just does not want us to pursue success in a pride-filled, self-righteous way.
— Jesus taught us that if we humble ourselves, He will exalt us. He has ways of making our name great. He has ways of blessing the work of our hands. But we must trust Him to do what we can’t because when God does it, we will be exalted to positions that far exceed anything we could have achieved on our own.
— True servanthood requires humility, putting others’ needs above our own. When we seek TO BE a blessing to others daily, God will see to it that everything we put on hands on prospers.
— In God’s Kingdom, status is not measured by worldly standards but by our willingness to serve.
— As followers of Christ, we are called to serve with a humble heart, seeking to glorify God, not ourselves. If we do that, He will lift us up!
— Embracing servanthood leads to true fulfillment and joy in our Christian walk.
4. Don’t Compare Yourself to Others.
— The Pharisee’s comparison to the tax collector highlights the foolishness of judging our spiritual life based on others.
— Comparison can lead to either unjustified pride or unnecessary despair, both of which are harmful to our spiritual health.
— Our spiritual journey should be a personal walk with God, not a competition with others.
— Comparing ourselves to others distracts us from focusing on our own areas of growth and improvement.
— We should seek personal progress and transformation, aligning ourselves with God’s standards, not those of others.
— Every believer has a unique path and purpose; understanding this helps us appreciate and support each other’s journeys. We should be able to celebrate the diversity of giftings and callings without jealousy.
5. Be Transparent Before God.
— The tax collector’s honest and raw prayer exemplifies the importance of transparency before God.
— God values our sincerity and truthfulness, as these are the marks of a genuine relationship with Him.
— Pretense and hypocrisy in our spiritual lives hinder our connection with God and stifle our spiritual growth.
— Being transparent with God about our struggles and weaknesses allows His strength and grace to work in us.
— His strength (or grace) is only made perfect in our weakness. God will not compete with us!
— God already knows our hearts; transparency is about acknowledging our true selves before Him.
— Embracing transparency in our walk with God fosters authenticity in our faith and our relationships with others.
6. Transparency Taps Into Grace!
— This parable highlights the immeasurable power of God’s grace in the life of the humble.
— Grace not only saves us but also empowers us to live lives that reflect God’s character.
— It is by grace that we grow, overcome challenges, and find strength in weakness.
— The transformative power of grace is most evident in our humility, repentance, and reliance on God.
— Grace enables us to extend forgiveness and love, even in the most challenging situations.
— It continually molds and shapes us, making us more like Christ each day.
— The more we understand and embrace God’s grace, the more we can be agents of change and healing in the world.
— This is why I preach #TheGraceLife every day!
Declaration of Faith:
Father, I declare my commitment to living a life of humility, recognizing it as the path to true greatness in Your Kingdom.
I acknowledge my need for Your grace and mercy, and I renounce any form of self-righteousness within me.
You create in me a heart that seeks Your forgiveness and transformation.
I commit to embracing servanthood over status, reflecting Your love and humility in my service to others.
Help me, Father, to avoid the pitfalls of comparison, focusing instead on my personal walk with You.
I choose to be transparent in Your presence, Lord, knowing that honesty and sincerity are the keys to deeper spiritual growth.
I trust in the power of Your grace to shape and mold me into the likeness of Christ, empowering me to face life’s challenges.
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!
