And He also told this parable to some people who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and viewed others with contempt: “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood and was praying this to himself: ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other people: swindlers, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I pay tithes of all that I get.’ But the tax collector, standing some distance away, was even unwilling to lift up his eyes to heaven, but was beating his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, the sinner!’ I tell you, this man went to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted.”
Luke 18:9‭-‬14 NASB

Humbleness does not come easy. At least not for me. Being a “goodie two shoes” most of my life has bolstered my view of myself making me self-righteous. Yes, self-righteous. Anytime we think of ourselves above or better than another, we are self-righteous. Our real plumb line, the standard by which God’s children should live, and from which divine judgement is gauged, is Jesus. His righteousness is pure, perfect, and available to the humble. The only righteousness I have is Jesus in me. We can be perfect in our own eyes, as the Pharisee was, or we can be humble, as the tax collector was and live a justified life exalting the only righteousness in us, Jesus, in humbleness. Humbleness is hard work. Practice putting God first in ALL.

🌹And He said to them, “You are those who justify yourselves in the sight of men, but God knows your hearts; for that which is highly esteemed among men is detestable in the sight of God.
Luke 16:15 NASB

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon

Humbleness = self less + Christ more
Self trusted righteousness = self more + righteous less