Sunshine! Know Your Place! 

Luke 18:13 NIV ~ “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.”

Have you ever been around a bossy person that thought because of their title or position that they were more important than you or the next person? Have you ever heard anyone say, “do you know who I am!?” And if you don’t do what I say I’m going to get you fired or something else worse? It’s at this point that you have to really know who you are! And whose you are in Christ! Look at this parable that Jesus talked about a Pharisee and a tax collector that went to the temple to pray. Which one are you? 

One day, Jesus was talking with some folks who were confident of their own eyes and righteousness, and they looked down on everyone else. Do you know anyone like that? Have you ever done that before? First, He told how the Pharisee had approached the temple with his superior attitude and he was thankful that he wasn’t like those other people. His virtues were of the highest standards, he had no faults. He paid his tithes faithfully; he helped others and knew that he was a good and religious man. began to pray and listing all of the things that he does in his own strength, he believed that since he had done all of these things, it made him righteous and better than but the tax collector.  

Next, Jesus described the tax collector prayed, he stood at a distance, and could not even look up to heaven. He understood who he was and his need for something greater than he, he knew that his own strength could not save him. He knew that he could never measure up to God’s perfection.  So, the tax collector cried from a distance, “God, have mercy on me, a sinner.” He had no sense of entitlement, and he made no excuses to justify himself. (Luke 18:14, 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.”) Can you sense the quietness and silence in air as Jesus Himself exalted a tax collector over a Pharisee? What do you think the key word was? Repentant! The tax collector had a repentant heart, he knew that he was not worthy, he asked Jesus to have mercy on a sinner like him, Isaiah 66:2! Jesus exalted him because he knew that his place came from the Grace of God! 

How about you? Do you have a repentant heart? That’s what God loved about David, he knew how to call on the Name of the Lord and repent, Psalm 32 and 51! Knowing who you are causes you to stay grounded because you understand that there’s nothing you can do in your own strength to save yourself. It causes you to come into complete dependence on the Lord. Every day we fall short, (Romans 3:23, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God) in our own strength, but your prayer should be, “Lord open my eyes to see who I am?” Open my eyes to see that I am a sinner in need of a Savior and to know that there is nothing I can do on my own! You literally need Jesus Christ to come on the inside of you and you need Him to lead you!

I know that there have been times when you tried to do things in your own strength, only to become frustrated because you were not able to do it like someone else could. You need Jesus and His Holy Spirit. You need to get this in your spirit and in your understanding, you are a sinner saved by grace, (Romans 3:24 “and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.”) and you need a Savior to always be before you! Because for as long as God allows you to live you will need a Savior to lean on forever instead of trying to be your savior. Repent and turn to Jesus Christ, the author and finisher of your faith. Hebrews 12:2! 

Let’s Pray:

Thank You Father, thank You for showing me the dangers of seeking spiritual entitlement, I repent right now in the Name of Jesus Christ. Father, humble me to know my place in the Your Kingdom. Father, thank You for Your putting Your Word on the inside of me and showing me, me and that I must look at myself and not judge others or think too highly of myself. Father, thank You for saving me when I fall short, thank You for not casting me away, but giving me the opportunity to repent and to turn back to You. Father, when I fall short, please open my eyes to see who I am. Open my eyes to see that I am a sinner in need of a Savior. And that there is no one else like You. Father, I know that I can nothing on our own, but with You I can do all things, Philippians 4:13! Father, I literally need You to come and live on the coming inside of me, I need Your leading and guiding each and every day. Father, it’s Your Spirit that I aim to have in me and all around me to help me to know my place. Father, my prayer is as I go forward, I go with You and an understanding of who I am in You and to know that I am nothing in my own strength or eyes, but that I am justified by You through my faith, and I live a righteous life because of Your Grace and Mercy. In the Name of Jesus Christ. Amen! 

Blessings…

Minister Jean