Am I a sinner or a
saint? What about you?
This thought came to my
mind this morning after reading this phrase in the bible.
The Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector
9 To some who were confident of their own
righteousness and looked down on everyone else, Jesus told this
parable: 10 “Two men went up to the temple to
pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The
Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like
other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax
collector. 12 I fast twice a week and give a
tenth of all I get.’
13 “But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would
not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy
on me, a sinner.’
14 “I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went
home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be
humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” Luke 18: 9-14
Two people with different
lifestyles, who can be easily judged from their outward appearances and by
their deeds. One looks holy and do holy
things, the other looks like a sinner and do sinful things. Which would we
prefer? Or whom we could compare us with? I didn’t want to be neither of them, but……..
The difference:
The holy one was boastful
and judgmental. He thought that he was holy enough and did not need
forgiveness. He trusted on his holy works to save him. He was boastful. In
addition, he looked down on those that were not doing holy things as he thought
he did.
The tax collector was humble
and had a repentant heart. He knows that he sinned against God and asked for
mercy. To be forgiven. Couldn’t even look at God.
Lord, how about me? I
asked. How about you? I am asking. Are we like the Pharisee or the
tax collector? Because, as much as we denied, I think we can be both.
How, you might ask?
Well, how do we feel for those
who denied God’s existence, curse him and blame him for all the troubles of
this world?
How do we feel for those
people who commits adultery? Evildoers who abuse small children or exploit them?
Those corrupt leaders who steal from the people. How about the murderer? Those
who kill to gain power and so on. Liars and robbers?
To be totally honest, I am
disgusted of those people. Questions like “ How could they do such a thing?” Judging
them. But, I think that I am not alone who feels that way. How about you? Maybe
we are like the Pharisee too? Looking down on those bad people in our eyes.
Hating them at the most. Disgusted. Maybe
we want to make them suffer too in our minds or do some dramatic things to take
revenge.
On the other hand, I feel
like the tax collector too. A sinner. I say things that I should not be saying.
Not careful with my words is one of the things that I might be doing that is not
right in the eyes of God. God sees my heart and knows what kind of sin that I
am capable of doing. Being judgmental like the Pharisee. God call it sin. Not only I judge others, but I judge myself
too. Feeling that I am not good enough. Maybe you feel like that way I do? And that
shoudn’t be.
We can just admit that we too sin against God,
not only once, but many times. Sins that does not show in our outward appearances.
Sin that lurks in our minds and our hearts, just waiting the right opportunity
to strike? Maybe some steal time from their employers? Doing facebooking, texting messages
or blogging when one is at work? How about driving faster than the law requires
in some areas? How about laughing at
someone’s handicaps? Saying white lies? Gossiping? Murmuring? Cursing?
Lusting? If we do some of these things,
we don’t have the right to judge. And if we are not doing some of these things,
we don’t have the right to judge either. Am I right?
God said:
"Why do you
look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the
plank in your own eye? Matthew 7:3
So who are we? A sinner or
a saint? Probably, your wish is like me. To be a saint. But…..
Prayer
Lord, forgive us for being
judgmental like the Pharisee. What others are doing is not our business. We
don’t know what it is in their hearts and have no right to judge. It is your
job. Lord, thank you that like the tax collector, we too can ask for forgiveness
if we sin against you. That is for sure. But we rely on your promise that “If we confess our sins, you are faithful and
just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. ( 1
John 1:9).
Help us to see others with
your eyes. See ourselves with your eyes. Fill our hearts with desires to your
words, to purify our thoughts. To be a law abiding citizen. Let us follow your
love and goodness so that we can help, comfort, love and forgive one another.
To seek your kingdom first before everything else, so that everything will be added
unto us. Be our shepherd so that that we shall not be in want. Guide us in the
paths of righteousness. Be our light, so we will not be in darkness. In Jesus name I pray.
Thought to consider: Sin is easy to point
out- except when it’s our own.
JOY
Amen, Joy, beautiful post. We must never take for granted the salvation in Jesus that God has given us and we must never look at ourselves as better than anyone else, we must continue to better ourselves and our relationship with Jesus and with others.
ReplyDeleteAmazing that this was our topic this morning at Bible study! God is trying to get my attention for sure! Bless you for sharing!
ReplyDeleteHi Joy! What a wonder that reading this Scripture got you thinking so much about your own state of life with judgement. I liked your last short sentence. That sin is easy to point out, unless it's our own!
ReplyDeleteI am sure that I have expressed disgust at the people in the world who seem bent on their own destruction, and the destruction of others. It's a fine line between having an opinion, and judging and condemning. I hope I can learn more about that line as I walk through life.
Blessed Thursday!
Ceil
I like to say it this way, " I was a sinner, but now I am saved by Grace." A saint does not wilfully sin. a saint sets a watch before their mouth and loves the sinner, but hates the sin. A saint will use their mouth to bless and not to curse or use bad language. Thank you for your wonderful thoughts on not being like any of those who are proud and boastful, or are actively sinning. It is wonderful that if we do slip, we don't stay there, but immediately confess and forsake our sin. Awesome Post Joy
ReplyDeleteit's really sad how people nowadays judge others so easily.
ReplyDeletehttp://lavinajampit.blogspot.com/
Admittedly , I am guilty of being a sinner , of judging others even if I dont know them ... may God s mercy be upon me : )
ReplyDeleteSomething we always have to be on guard about.... very good reminder... Diane
ReplyDelete