Psalm 24 makes it clear that there's no one like our God who is the creator of all things. He is so strong and mighty and so far above us. Yet he welcomes us to come before him into his presence but we must approach him with clean hands and a pure heart. The problem is, I'm a sinner. I often feel unworthy before our God. I fall short of his perfection. When I do, I have two options for how I respond. Both options are found in the parable of the Pharisee and tax collector in Luke 18:9-14.

1. The Pharisee goes before God and prays. He compares his righteousness with those “worse” than himself: the cheaters, sinners, adulterers, and even the really bad sinners, the tax collectors. And because he feels he's not as bad therefore he assumes he's good enough. His arrogance results in putting down others.

Okay, perhaps he's never committed adultery with a woman but I wonder how many times he looked at a woman with lust, which Jesus says, that who ever does such a thing actually commits adultery in their hearts, Matthew 5:27-28.

What I'm saying is, we can't determine our righteousness based upon our comparison with others for we will always find someone “worse” than ourselves. And once we do, we set ourselves up for disaster. Our arrogance will kill us because we'll assume we are good enough to approach the throne of God. When in fact we should compare our righteousness with that of Jesus, then we'll find out that no one is good enough. No one has bragging rights. To recognize this will then bring humility and brokenness. We aren't so quick then to judge others. Instead it drives us to come alongside the sinners and help them and encourage them. It helps remind us how much we need Jesus and his forgiveness and that only through a relationship with Jesus are we able to be made righteous.

2. The second option for responding to God we see in verse 13 of Luke 18. The tax collector knows he's a sinner. He compares himself to God so he knows how much he has fallen short. He can't even lift his eyes up to heaven to look at God. He is humble before God. He beats his chest because he's not happy with sin in his life. He prays for mercy and acknowledges that he is a sinner.

Jesus says the man who was truly forgiven and made clean was the sinner, the tax collector. He humbly approached the throne of God acknowledging his sin. He did not put others down as if he was better than anyone.

Forgive me Lord for I am a sinner. Help me to share your love with the Lost. Help me take this message of hope to the hopeless. Help me take this message to those who are in bondage so that they can be set free.