“Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’
“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.’”
This is the parable that Jesus tells his disciples in Luke 18. This is a beautiful picture of God’s unfailing grace. To begin off, the Pharisees were know as the rule keepers. They kept the mosaic law as perfectly as any human could. We can see just how much pride they took in this in the latter part of the Pharisee’s prayer. Because of this they viewed themselves holier than those around them. The tax collectors on the other hand were the worst of the worst. There are several times in scripture where Jesus would go and eat with the “tax collectors and sinners.” They were hated by most and considered as bad as adulterers and prostitutes. The parable begins with them both going to the temple to pray.
Many books have been written on the subject of prayer and how to pray better. I have even written several posts about prayer Here, Here, and Here. The disciples asked Jesus to teach them how to pray. In all of the searching on how to have a prayer life that is glorifying to God we must start with the attitude of our hearts. The pharisee’s heart attitude was, “God, look at me and all that I do for you. You should love me.” The tax collector’s heart attitude was, “God, you are holy and I am a guilty sinner. I am undeserving of Your love.” The passage says that the tax collector didn’t even look up to heaven. He was so aware of how unworthy he was in the sight of God.
We live in a time where we hear how much God loves us left and right. We sing songs like “How He loves” and “Your love never fails.” Don’t get me wrong it is important to be reminded of the unfailing love of Christ, but we run into problems when we put God’s love above His holiness and justness. When this happens we are left with the question, “How can a loving God send people to Hell?” Rob Bell tried answering that question in “Love Wins” and even brought into question the very existence of hell itself. God is a loving God, but He is also a Just and Holy God. This brings us back to the prayer of the tax collector, “God, have mercy on me, a sinner.” Jesus concludes the parable by telling His disciples that this man left that day justified before God. Because of Christ’s finished work on the cross we can look up to heaven knowing we are now holy in His sight. When we preach the gospel to ourselves we realize that we are sinners in need of mercy from a holy God. We also know that our best human efforts, tithing, fasting, going to church, etc. can not justify us. Paul writes in 1 Timothy 1:13-16 “Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief. The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life.”
In order to fully grasp how wonderful the gospel is we must fully grasp how real our sin is. I pray that each day you are living in light of the gospel and it’s life changing message. When we come before God let it not be with an attitude of “Here is what I have done” but rather “Here is what You have done.” I read a great article earlier this week about reminding ourselves of the gospel on a regular basis. I have included it below, and I hope you are encouraged as I was. Have a wonderful, gospel-filled week.
Several years ago I worked at an investment broker dealer. It was at the tail end of the market’s ‘good days’ and during the subsequent ‘bad days’ that followed September 11th. As you might imagine there was a lot of chatter about the dissipation of folks’ investments. I remember over hearing the customer service reps repeatedly trying to calm people down. One particular strategy they employed was to tell the anxious callers to look at their investment summaries about as often as they look at their wedding pictures. In other words, don’t get too worked up day to day.
This worked because most people don’t look at their wedding pictures every year, let alone every month or every day.
I remember wondering, “What would happen if people did look at their wedding pictures every month?” Most certainly couples would be reminded of their love for one another, the beauty of their spouse, the changes over the years, and the love that they still have. It could be helpful. It could prevent ‘issues’.
DUST OFF THE GOSPEL SNAPSHOTS
Similarly, what would happen if the Christian looked at the snapshots of the gospel more regularly?
Similarly, what would happen if the Christian looked at the snapshots of the gospel more regularly?
Too often we function like comfortable married couples that have been together for decades. Older ‘mature’ couples get comfortable. They are not as immature and ‘green’ as those young couples that are smiling at one another, thinking about one another, and bragging about one another.
May God forbid that we get over the gospel! If maturity means indifference and distant then give me another word!
Dust off those gospel snapshots and see the Savior, your Savior! Look at him bear up under the Law and fulfill it perfectly for you (John 4.34). Marvel at his resolve to go to the cross where he will pay your eternal sin debt (Matt. 16.21). Let your heart throb contemplating the truth of sovereign grace in electing, predestining, calling, adopting and regenerating you (Eph. 1.4-5, 2.4-9). Force yourself to wrestle with the simultaneously humiliating and joy producing reality of the cross; we killed Christ but God was pleased to crush him for us! (Is. 53.10) Let the personal love of Christ flood your minds and hearts as you consider him praying for you, and the joy and unity of all his followers (John 17.13, 20-21). Reassure yourself of his faithfulness to you as always lives to make intercession for you as the great High Priest (Heb. 7.25-27). Remind yourself that he is most certainly coming again, to return for you. In fact, he is standing right at the door, ready to kick it in and come back (James 5.9). As you look again at the gospel snapshots, observe that his righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and as true as he is the Son of God his righteousness is forever the basis of God’s pleasure with you. God will never be more happy with you than he is in Jesus.
This is a glorious album to explore.
If we are (and we are) forgetful, lethargic, unthankful, unmoved, unamazed Christians, then, by all means, pull out the gospel snapshots and sit and stare at the narrative. See the completed work of God in Christ for you. And, just like a good bride, don’t stop staring at the pictures until your heart is moved and you find yourself in love and happy in this marriage.
-Erik Raymond
You can find his blog at www.ordinarypastor.com
