Which Way Will You Choose

Luke 18:9-14

What is Lent?- No I am not talking about what comes out of your dryer or your belly-button.  So again what is Lent? Is it the time where we get extra religious and we give up our Chocolate, or favorite soda, give up Facebook, etc… Doing things like that are great and show a sign of your love for the Savior. When it comes to Lent, Jesus has a greater concern. He desires something that is not temporary. I think Lent is a time of self-denial, a time to give up something and Jesus       wants that something forever! That something is your heart!

Lent can be summed up into two people: Pharisee and a Tax Collector. The  Pharisees were the people who lived good, clean lives. The tax collectors were people who swindled and intimidated others out of their money. Both of them came to church – went to the temple to pray.

“The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men – robbers, evildoers, adulterers – or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.” Maybe you can sum up his prayer this way: “I thank you, God, that there’s nothing wrong with me.”

Then Jesus focuses on the tax collector in his story – the opposite of the Pharisee. He had been stealing money from people his whole life – ruining the lives of others so that he could live it up. He knew that his whole life had been a disaster, and that he deserved to go to hell when he died.

Jesus says that “the tax collector stood at a distance” – he wouldn't even walk up to the front of the temple – “He would not even look up to heaven” – he was so ashamed of his sin – “he beat his chest and said, ‘God have mercy on me, a sinner.’” His prayer was the opposite of the Pharisee’s, wasn't it – maybe you can sum it up this way, “God, there’s everything wrong with me. Help me.”

Which one do you think God desires? Self-righteous or Humble… Well Jesus says, that the sinful tax collector was the one that was forgiven by God, and not the perfect Pharisee. Why you might ask? Jesus tells us: “For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” The Pharisee was proud, looking down on others, exalting himself.

So does God’s forgiveness based on how humble we are?  No because our salvation would only be based on how humble we are.  With that said, we would never know if we were truly forgiven because we wouldn't know if we were truly humble enough in God’s eyes. The truth of the matter, we don’t deserve any forgiveness but by God’s grace and mercy we are forgiven.

The truth of the matter is, neither the Pharisee nor the tax collector deserved God’s forgiveness. The Pharisee didn't because he was conceited and self-righteous – thought he was better than everybody else, thought he was perfect. The tax collector didn't deserve God’s forgiveness because of the terrible life he had led. Neither one deserved to be forgiven by God. But again by God’s grace and mercy we are redeemed. We are forgiven because of what Jesus did on Calvary.

For the next six weeks, I challenge you to look deep into your heart, to think about your life and how you've been living it. Again it is great to give up something for Lent but I want you to think deeper than that.  What sin will you give up for the rest of your life?

 Remember, Christ is really concerned about is what’s in your heart. Proverbs. 4:23 says, Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. Well if your heart isn’t clean and full of Jesus all good can’t flow from. If the heart is dirty then everything will be affected. So isn’t it time for a clean heart. The clear heart starts with Jesus Christ and He can make it as clean as snow!

So again what’s it going to be:

Pharisee- God, there’s nothing wrong with me.

OR

Tax Collector- God there is everything wrong with me and I need you!

I hope you choose Tax Collector! 

May you enjoy this journey that He has blessed you with and may you look to Him in all you do! Peace be with you always!