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.”
Luke 18:9-14
If there is one thing I have learned in my walk with Jesus it is that except for Him, there is no goodness, no righteousness in me-period. I am a flawed, corrupted, broken vessel, but He has seen me, not as I am, but how I can be. He picks me up and clothes me in His Love, Mercy, Grace, Righteousness... When I am so grieved at myself that I cannot look up, He lifts my Head; when I fall and I am slumped over in despair, my shoulders stooped, and my arms hanging lifelessly, He embraces me in a lover's embrace...His left hand is behind my head, His right arm wrapped around me and our eyes meet. There are no words needed, His Spirit comforts and restores my soul.
I desire to be like Him, to be with Him, not for righteousness' sake, but because I love Him above all else, and in spite of myself, He loves me unconditionally.
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