Luke 18:9-14 "9 Now He also told this parable to some people who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and viewed others with contempt:
10 “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.
11 The Pharisee stood and began praying this in regard to himself: ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other people: swindlers, crooked, adulterers, or even like this tax collector.
12 I fast twice a week; I pay tithes of all that I get.’
13 But the tax collector, standing some distance away, was even unwilling to raise his eyes toward heaven, but was beating his chest, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, the sinner!’
14 I tell you, this man went to his house justified rather than the other one; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”
How many times have we met people who are so fully impressed with themselves that they treat others as though they are irrelevant, even with contempt, as though they are not worthy of love and respect?
They choose people they think are beneath them, those who do not elevate them as special are often the targets.
Just as the Pharisee was proud of how good he thought he was for following all the rules, these "religious" types think they are special for their lavish lifestyle or their classy clothing style.
Pharisees were the worst of the hypocrites, so much so that God wrote about them in His Word.
Matthew 23:4-6 "…4 They tie up heavy, burdensome loads and lay them on men’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them. 5 All their deeds are done for men to see. They broaden their phylacteries and lengthen their tassels. 6 They love the places of honor at banquets, the chief seats in the synagogues,"
Sometimes I wonder how many people attend large buildings they call "churches" to make sure others see them? Is it really about edifying one another in the gathering or is it about being seen by others as special and superior?
God gave us instructions to help us see what authentic Christianity looks like.
Matthew 6:5-7 5 And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. Truly I tell you, they already have their full reward. 6But when you pray, go into your inner room, shut your door, and pray to your Father, who is unseen. And your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. 7And when you pray, do not babble on like pagans, for they think that by their many words they will be heard."
We serve God not to please mankind but to please God. He uses us for His purposes and we trust Him because He created us. When we have trusted in Him, we know we have a reward.
Colossians 3:24 "because you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as your reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving."
When Christ is our focus in life, people will attempt to distract us from Him. They will place expectations and rules on us that God never gave. They will use intimidation and domination to pressure us to be like them instead of Christlike.
The freest believer is the one who is willing to walk alone with Christ even when no one else goes with them. They love people but they do not need them. They accept and appreciate others who walk with Christ but are content when they are not able to be with them.
Sometimes I yearn to be with believers who are far from me, but in my heart of hearts, I feel a connection even when they are so far away, and I know we will all be together at the Marriage Supper of the Lamb soon.
Titus 2:13 "13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;"
