The Daily Devotional Podcast

Abide | Philippians Subseries - 12 | Luke 18: 9-14

• Waypoint Church

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This reflection reveals that our relationship with God is built on grace rather than performance. Through Jesus’ parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector, it exposes the tendency to measure our worth by what we do and reminds us that God’s mercy is received through humility, not earned through achievement.

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SPEAKER_00

Today I'm reading Luke eighteen, verses nine through fourteen. Then Jesus told this story to some who had great confidence in their own righteousness and scorned everyone else. Two men went to the temple to pray. One was a Pharisee, the other was a despised tax collector. The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed this prayer. I thank you, God, that I'm not like other people, cheaters, sinners, adulterers. I'm certainly not like that tax collector. I fast twice a week, and I give you a tenth of my income. But the tax collector stood at a distance, and dared not even lift his eyes to heaven as he prayed. Instead he beat his chest in sorrow, saying, O God, be merciful to me, for I am a sinner. I tell you, this sinner, not the Pharisee, returned home justified before God. For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted. Most people carry an internal score card. We may not realize it, but we're constantly measuring. We compare our accomplishments to others. We evaluate our success and failures. We keep track of how well we're doing and whether we think we're moving in the right direction. Sometimes we even bring that same mindset into our relationship with God. Am I doing enough? Am I growing enough? Am I faithful enough? Jesus tells a parable for people who are tempted to ask those kinds of questions. Two men go to the temple to pray, one's a Pharisee, known for his religious devotion, the other tax collector, someone widely viewed as a sinner and an outsider. The Pharisee stands confidently and begins recounting his accomplishments. He fasts, he gives, he avoids the sins that characterize others. In many ways everything he says is true. His problem is not lying. His problem is that he's mistaken his performance for righteousness. The tax collector approaches differently. Standing at a distance he can't even bring himself to look towards heaven. Instead he prays a simple prayer God have mercy on me, a sinner. Jesus says it's the tax collector, not the Pharisee, who goes home justified before God. This certainly would have been a shock to the system for many people around Jesus at the time, and could still strike someone today. There can be a natural inclination for the more impressive person to receive greater approval. Yet Jesus exposes the danger of our measurement being based on religious activity. It's possible to become so focused on what we've done for God that we lose sight of our need for God. That danger sits close to the heart of Philippians 3. Paul had his own impressive spiritual resume. He had every reason to place his confidence in heritage, obedience, and religious accomplishments. Yet after encountering Christ, he came to see those things differently. His confidence was no longer rooted in what he could achieve. It was rooted in the righteousness that comes through faith in Jesus. The tax collector understood something the Pharisee missed. Grace can only be received with open hands. As long as we're trying to prove ourselves worthy, we'll struggle to receive what God freely gives. The invitation of the gospel is not to impress God with our goodness. It's to come honestly before Him and trust in His mercy. And that is very good news, because mercy is exactly what He delights to give. Before I close in prayer, here's a question to wrestle with. Help me lay down the need to prove myself and teach me to rest in the mercy you freely offer through Jesus.