Justified

10 "Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee, standing by himself, was praying thus, 'God, I thank you that I am not like other people: thieves, rogues, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week; I give a tenth of all my income.'13 But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even look up to heaven, but was beating his breast and saying, 'God, be merciful to me, a sinner!' 14 I tell you, this man went down to his home justified rather than the other; for all who exalt themselves will be humbled, but all who humble themselves will be exalted." (Luke 18:10-14)

Jesus tells the story in Luke 18 to those "who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and regarded others with contempt" (v. 9), but the story seems to invite the very type of comparing mentality that it condemns. We instinctively want to align with the obvious "good guy", but as soon as we start to feel too good about not praying like the Pharisee we run the risk of being just like him. While the Pharisee was, in fact, telling the truth - he had set himself apart by faithful obedience to the law - he failed to realize that it was only by God's grace that his obedience was possible. The tax collector, on the other hand, understood his complete need of God.

When we compare ourselves to others we will either come up short in our own perceived estimation or in reality - we never have the whole picture of anyone else (we rarely even have the whole, honest, picture of ourselves). Interestingly, the Pharisee spent so much time being happy that he wasn't like the tax collector while it's the tax collector who went home justified - so, indeed, he was not like the tax collector after all.

We can either be full of self or full of God - only one of those has the power to save.

4 Happy are those who live in your house, ever singing your praise. Selah 5 Happy are those whose strength is in you, in whose heart are the highways to Zion. 6 As they go through the valley of Baca they make it a place of springs; the early rain also covers it with pools. 7 They go from strength to strength; the God of gods will be seen in Zion. (Psalm 84:4-7)