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.
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!