Tuesday, January 18
Have mercy on me
Scripture: Genesis 35-36, Luke 18
Luke 18:9 He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and looked down on everyone else:
Observation
This verse is Luke’s introduction to Jesus’ story about the Pharisee and tax collector at prayer. The Pharisee thanks God that he is better than others. The tax collector won’t even look up, but cries, “God, have mercy on me, a sinner.”
The story was directed at those “who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and looked down on everyone else.”
Self-righteousness and contempt for others are very real dangers for religious people!
Application
My wife says that my love language is being right. I love to be right! That very easily spills over into self-righteousness.
And it’s easy for me to look down on others, to see others as less than me in some way. Less intelligent, less healthy, less spiritual, less right.
It’s not that I dwell on this and feel contempt. It’s more a flash of judgment, then I move on. But I’d rather not judge at all.
It’s hard to love others when you look down on them. It’s hard to want to do good for someone you judge as less than you, or unworthy.
I recognize this tendency in me, and pray…
Prayer: God, have mercy on me, a sinner. Help me to see myself and others correctly.