December 27
Scripture Reading
Read Luke 18:8-14 and reflect on the passage.
I can still see the Sunday School picture of this parable as
I first learned it. All of us kids wondered: Who would be so
stupidly arrogant as this boastful Pharisee? We didn’t even realize that we
were judging ourselves as better than the Pharisee, just the Pharisee had
thought himself better than the tax collector!
“Oh, we all can get that Pharisee-stupid some time or
other,” our teacher assured us, “whenever we forget we’re sinners like the tax
collector.” She suggested that Jesus tells us this story because He wants us to
work like a saint but worship like a sinner. Because of Jesus’ sacrifice for
us, we can come to God as forgiven sinners. What gratitude to God we—as
forgiven people—can have! Then, because of God’s spirit in us, we have the
power to do the good works He has prepared for us. What amazing things God can
work in us when we follow Him! Worship with the thankfulness of a sinner who
doesn’t deserve God’s kindness. Work with the energy of a saint of God’s own
making in His Spirit’s power.
Questions
1.
How can you do the right thing for the right
reason?
2.
How does the opinion of others mess with your
faith life?
Prayer
Jesus, You wash us clean. You power us up. You prepare the
way for us to go. When we stumble, rescue us again. Thank You.
—Pam Mann
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