Written by Scott Fiddler
The Word
9 He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt: 10 “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’ 13 But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ 14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”
-Luke 18:9–14
Reflection
We live in a world that indoctrinates us in pride. In school we recognize a valedictorian, a Dean’s List , and honor rolls. In athletics we laud the Most Valuable Player, the Rookie of the Year, and talk incessantly of GOATs. At work we award the Top Salesman and Employee of the Year, while actors get Oscars, Golden Globes, and BET awards, musicians Grammys, and writers and scientists Nobel Prizes.
The world does not limit its indoctrination to just those who achieve. Participation awards, pride parades, and kindergarten graduation ceremonies are all intended to instill a sense of pride, even in those who have done nothing to deserve it.
In case we miss the message in all this awarding, the world tells us, “Be proud of who you are,” “Hold your head high,” and “Believe in yourself.” And in case we are not moved by the spoken word, the high priests and priestesses of our secular culture are ready with a song. Whitney Houston sings “The Greatest Love of All,” Gloria Gaynor “I Will Survive,” and Christina Aguilera “Beautiful.”
“Pride, pride, pride,” says the world, “we have to be proud of who we are.” However, while the world is telling us they are giving us a cure, they are in fact feeding the disease. They tell us pride will protect us from monsters without while pride only strengthens the monster within.
And then it comes time to get right with God and the monster is there, telling us we are not so bad and we are better than others, certainly better than Hitler. The Holy Spirit is convicting us, and we offer up Adolf. This is the delusion most of the non-Christian world lives under, that they are not as bad as the histrionic Austrian with a bad mustache.
Application
To the contrary, in the scripture above, Jesus is saying to be right with God we must come to Him in Truth, the truth that we are all in rebellion and, thus, indebted to God. Those who do so will be lifted up by His grace into a right relationship with Him; those who do not will be humbled.
This truth is not only applicable to our introduction to God but to our continuing walk with Him. Those who remain in humble juxtaposition with the Almighty, enjoy a steady stream of His grace, while those who lapse back into the deception above are at risk of being reminded through God’s sovereign arrangement of circumstances who they really are and who He is.
Prayer
Lord, thank You for Your grace that elevates me above my own limitations and Your Truth that reminds me of how underserving I am of it. Amen.
City Life Starter 
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