"Forgiven"
Joshua 13:1-14:15
Luke 18:1-17
Psalm 85:1-13
Proverbs 13:7-8
"Two men went to the Temple to pray. One was a proud, self-righteous Pharisee, and the other a cheating tax collector. The proud Pharisee 'prayed' this prayer: 'Thank God, I am not a sinner like everyone else, especially like that tax collector over there! For I never cheat, I don't commit adultery, I go without food twice a week, and I give to God a tenth of everything I earn.'
"But the corrupt tax collector stood at a distance and dared not even lift his eyes to heaven as he prayed, but beat upon his chest in sorrow, exclaiming, 'God, be merciful to me, a sinner.' I tell you, this sinner, not the Pharisee, returned home forgiven! For the proud shall be humbled, but the humble shall be honored." (Luke 18:10-14)
What goes through our minds when we have conversations with unbelievers? I hate to say it, but as I look back on my thought process through some of those conversations, I fear that my motives may have been more of the Pharisee than the tax collector. No, I didn't necessarily look down at them, or roll my eyes and say, Thank God, I'm not like them," but yet i think it's in our human nature to look at "them and us". I inadvertently catch myself thinking of unbelievers as "outsiders."
How different would our relationships be with unbelievers, if the arrogance of our piety were gone? What if we approached our conversations with them in humility instead of hoping to get another star on our "witnessing chart". I know I'm sounding a bit harsh, but i hope you can catch the heart of what i'm saying.
Who am I to take pride in the fact that I'm forgiven. "God, be merciful to me, a sinner." Remember the sacrifices that please God are a broken spirit and a contrite heart.
When I spend time at my neighbor's house and I have a broken spirit, I'm not so much worried about getting a chance to fill them with my knowledge, I'm more interested in hearing their need. God will give the opportunity to reveal His love and truth.
Thank you Lord for being merciful to me, a sinner!
Through the Power of the Spirit,
Live the DREAM!
Pastor Greg Lathe
Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship
Relationships Devoted to Unity
Empowered Through Biblical Training
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Mission to Reach our World for Christ
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