He told his next story to some who were complacently pleased with themselves over their moral performance and looked down their noses at the common people: “Two men went up to the Temple to pray, one a Pharisee, the other a tax man. The Pharisee posed and prayed like this: ‘Oh, God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, crooks, adulterers, or, heaven forbid, like this tax man. I fast twice a week and tithe on all my income.’ “Meanwhile the tax man, slumped in the shadows, his face in his hands, not daring to look up, said, ‘God, give mercy. Forgive me, a sinner.’” Jesus commented, “This tax man, not the other, went home made right with God. If you walk around with your nose in the air, you’re going to end up flat on your face, but if you’re content to be simply yourself, you will become more than yourself.” * * *
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People brought babies to Jesus, hoping he might touch them. When the disciples saw it, they shooed them off. Jesus called them back. “Let these children alone. Don’t get between them and me. These children are the kingdom’s pride and joy. Mark this: Unless you accept God’s kingdom in the simplicity of a child, you’ll never get in.”
Compare All Versions: Luke 18:9-14, 15-17
3 Days
I want to be truly justified before God, rather than getting my strokes from people, or my self-appreciating comparisons, don’t you? So, how about joining me for a few days as I explore the subject of spiritual pride and let’s figure out what the Lord has to say about it? I do believe it is something that can slip into our life without us even knowing it.
In Luke 18, Jesus illustrates three ways to approach God. Let’s take a look and consider, how do we pray?
Feeling spiritually exhausted from trying to look the part? It’s time for a Holy Hustle Detox with "Sassy Jesus"—the bold, table-flipping Savior who isn’t impressed by perfect appearances. In this 3-day plan by author Heather Hair, you'll discover how Jesus calls out performative religion and invites you into something real, raw, and deliciously restful (because who wouldn't want their "soul rest" to feel like dessert?)
This is part 2 of 4 in the Feed Middle School series Unboxed: Created in God's Image. This plan unpacks Lesson 2: Changed Forever. Jesus calls us to live with a different perspective than the world around us—to be transformed by him instead of conformed to the world. Comparison threatens to ruin this, but by God’s strength, we can be transformed.
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