S4: Luke 18: 9-14

 Scripture Read.  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.”

 Thought Applied.  Recognize that all of us are sinners.  Recognize ourselves as sinners.  God sees us for who we are.  If you think you are head and shoulders above someone else, you are not.

Application Made.  It is easy to judge the downtrodden.  We even have trite little quotes we use, like "There, but for the Grace of God, go I.  But realize we are all God's children, and in that sense, we are all equal.  Pray to God on the merit of your own goods and bads, but not by comparison to others.

Response Prayer.  Lord, I should not compare myself to others to ascertain my value, because you love all your children.  I am a unique individual, and you see me as such.  I do not need to try and make myself more important in the eyes of men or other people by comparison.  Help me to do that in prayer, and also in my day-to-day walk.