The Heart of Humility

“Also He spoke this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other men—extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.’ And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me a sinner!’ I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”” - Luke 18:9-14 NKJV

If this parable doesn't spark some conviction you may want to check your pulse. Two men. One full of pharisaical pride that is blinded and doesn’t see his need for a savior or grace and one broken over his sin and filled with humility. We are in a dangerous place in our walk if we think we are not in need of God's Grace. The Pharisees' confidence in self causes him to miss his great need for salvation. The tax collector is not blinded by pride and can see his desperate need for Jesus. It is always the heart of humility that receives grace. Pride ignores God’s great gift of salvation and misses the Savior. I pray that each of us will be humble enough to see Jesus.

Pastor William Clendenin