“Then Jesus told this story to some who had great confidence in their own righteousness and scorned everyone else: ‘Two men went to the temple to pray. One was a Pharisee, and the other was a despised tax collector. The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed this prayer: “I thank You, God, that I am not a sinner like everyone else. For I don’t cheat, I don’t sin, and I don’t commit adultery. I’m certainly not like that tax collector! I fast twice a week, and I give you a tenth of my income.” But the tax collector stood at a distance and dared not even lift his eyes to heaven as he prayed. Instead, he beat his chest in sorrow, saying, “O God, be merciful to me, for I am a sinner.”’ I tell you, this sinner, not the Pharisee, returned home justified before God. For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” Luke 18:9-14 NLT

Humbled and Exalted

God looks at things so differently than man does—He looks for a repentant heart, not someone boasting about how good they are. We’ve all sinned and fallen short (Romans 3:23). Sometimes I think it’s easier for those of us who have fallen hard to recognize that. My past is colorful, to say the least—not something I’m proud of, but what I do appreciate about it is I recognize then and now that I am an obvious sinner in need of God’s grace and mercy. 

Less is more with Him. The least will be the greatest (Luke 9:48). And though God exalted Jesus to the highest place (Philippians 2:9) and Jesus is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners and exalted above the heavens (Hebrews 7:26 NIV), yet He came to earth, humbled Himself, and died a sinner’s death on the cross to save us. The One with the very nature of God made Himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant (Philippians 2:6-8).

So I must ask myself questions. Am I humble? Am I am a servant? Do I look down on the “really bad” sinners around me? Or do I remember how much of a sinner I am—yet at the same time delight in the freedom from sin Jesus’ blood has given me?

“Lord, thank You for forgiving and saving us. While we walk in the love and freedom given to us by the power of the blood of the Lamb, may we never forget that we are sinners saved by grace. May we ever be like the tax collector—humbling ourselves before You and leaving the exalting (raising to dignity, honor and happiness) to You. Amen.”