costly honesty for a costly offering

Luke 18:9-14

The Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector

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."

Even if I'm seemingly agreeing with the low opinions of others (Pharisee spirit), it's GOOD to be honest w/God about our sin. I can not be justified before man if I want to be justified before God. What God thinks of me is all that matters at the end of the day, for he knows my heart like no other. It is good to get real with God, unto repentance, mercy, and justification. No more cheap grace, God. I don't want that. I don't want something that makes me feel comfortable in my weakness but rather something that is powerful enough to move me from that place to victory! It's good to say, "This is my fear, God. Remove it from me!." It is good to declare war on this flesh of mine, especially if it means the crucifixion of it. He is faithful to do that very thing. He is so faithful and trustworthy. Did he not bare the cross for me? That's the most extravagant offering anybody has ever given me. I think I can trust his heart for me, as he poured it out with blood. I can trust Jesus to have mercy on me in the place of my guilty confession. I can trust Jesus to justify me with his blood in the lowly place of the cross. Give me greater grace, Lord, to call it what it is - sin - that I would be restored to you. You said you give greater grace to the humble. The foot of the cross is the lowest place I could ever go.


I need greater grace to seek you first, above all things.
I need greater grace to love you more, as you love me.
I need greater grace to fear you, and not man.
I need greater grace to forsake all others for the sake of knowing you.
I need greater grace to love, no matter the price.
I need greater grace to be who you've called me to be.

Jesus, release to me a greater revelation of the cross that I could overcome myself, that I might be empowered to know/love/serve you more.