Humility and Grace

He 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.' Luke 18:9-12 (Msg)

Are you looking down on others, feeling sorry they're not as "cutting edge"? If so, you can be sure the leaven of the pharisees has crept in. Pride is subtle and insidious. If we look at our perfect righteousness before God in an unhealthy way, the temptation can be to take credit. Keeping tally of our good deeds or track record is dangerous business. Man looks at outward appearances but God looks at the heart. So we too must look past mere appearances in our lives.

"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.'" Luke 18:13 (Msg)

Here we see integrity and sincerity. The tax man holds a clear understanding of his place before God, outside of His grace. This attitude of honesty and transparency opens the door for God's unmerited favor!

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 18:14 (Msg)

So we see a picture of humility. Vanity and pride cannot receive the gracious gift of God's righteousness purchased at Calvary. As we abide in Christ, we must learn to place "no confidence in the flesh," lest we step out from under God's grace. Jeremiah 17:5 affirms this:

“Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength, whose heart departs from the LORD."

Our trust must be in Christ alone. He is our righteousness and He is our life. We set our trust on His finished work. We partake of the divine nature through His great and precious promises. Meditate on these promises as Jeremiah continues:

“Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD,
and whose hope is the LORD.
For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters,
which spreads out its roots by the river,
and will not fear when heat comes;
but its leaf will be green,
and will not be anxious in the year of drought,
nor will cease from yielding fruit." Jer. 17:7-8 (NKJV)