Christian Counseling Service -- Devotions

R-E-S-P-E-C-T

Saturday, March 21, 2009

Luke 18:9-14
To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everybody else, Jesus told this parable: "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.' I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."

'Cause he gets up in the morning,
And he goes to work at nine,
And he comes back home at five-thirty,
Gets the same train every time.
'Cause his world is built 'round punctuality,
It never fails.
And he's oh, so good,
And he's oh, so fine,
And he's oh, so healthy,
In his body and his mind.
He's a well respected man about town,
Doing the best things so conservatively.

In this chapter of Luke Jesus tells stories about a mistreated widow, about a tax collector (the lowest of the low in his society) and a very proud Pharisee, about a devout rich man who will not sacrifice his riches, and finally about a blind man who begs for healing.

Jesus encounters parents desperate for him to touch their children and tells his followers they must become like little children themselves. Finally, he predicts his own persecution, suffering, death and resurrection.

Jesus is just not interested in success the way the world defines it. He praises the sinner for his repentance and rebukes the Pharisee for his pride. He doesn't care about the Pharisee's right behavior; he does value the sinner's humility. He freely gives sight to the blind man but requires the rich man's every penny. Jesus puts the adult disciples, who seek control over the children, behind those very children on the road to heaven.

And he likes his own backyard,
And he likes his fags the best,
'Cause he's better than the rest,
And his own sweat smells the best,
And he hopes to grab his father's loot,
When Pater passes on.
'Cause he's oh, so good,
And he's oh, so fine,
And he's oh, so healthy,
In his body and his mind.
He's a well respected man about town,
Doing the best things so conservatively. *

Jesus doesn't ask me to go where He won't go. He picks his way toward the bottom, sharing himself with everyone all the way down, and tells me to follow him. Of course even on this downward path I can be tempted into self-flagellating pride. I am the best worst-person of all. Oh how bad and bad, so bad I am.

But then God just touches my eyes and loves me, He lets me see again. He's the object of my affection. He's the focal point. I need not look at myself any longer; I can feast my eyes on Jesus.

In the greatness of your compassion, Lord, wash me from my guilt and cleanse me of my sin. Show me your mercy. You are not pleased with sacrifices, or I would offer one. My sacrifice, O God, will be a contrite and humbled spirit; that you will not spurn.

*The Kinks, 1965.

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Saturday, March 21, 2009