publican Archives – Sonshine's Journal

November 8, 2018

Who Am I? Who Are You?

Proverbs 26 “Who Am I? Who Are You?”

Jesus told a parable of the Pharisee and the publican. The Pharisee, in his boasting, left his time of worship just as he came, unforgiven and unloved by God. The publican in his humility left his time of worship full of joy because the Father God saw his heart. This is where the intellectually wise and the simple fool part ways. If truth be told, sometimes we find ourselves wearing the shoes of one or the other.

We need discernment to decide the character of each before us. There is the Pharisee; loud, prideful and pushy who can’t see beyond their noses; speaking gracious words that belie what they really think. They are only wise in their own opinion. It is certain that there is more hope for a fool than them.

There is the publican graciously waiting his turn in the line of the faithful as Esther did. She waited patiently to seek the ear of the king and see the scepter extended her way.

The Father God sees it all.

He sees through the Pharisees words as evil deceit from a lying tongue and a flattering mouth—all of which will bring down their ruin. Beware of them. Like the rich man in Luke 16, their earthly pomposity will lead them to the eternal pit of hell where they will look over and see the humble, basking in Paradise.

Who Am I? Who are you? One day we will stand before the wisest king who will hand down his judgments. Ask God now to:

“Examine me O Lord and test me!

Evaluate my inner thoughts and motives.” Ps 26:2

August 13, 2016

Judging—yes or no?

romans 2 mercy of god2 How often have we heard this phrase: you are judging. Yet, if truth be known we all judge. We judge which foods we want to eat based on likes and dislikes. We judge ideas by choosing truth from error. But, to judge another’s heart is for God alone for He is impartial. God knows which of the two kinds of people will stand before him one day: self-righteous sinner or repentant saved (saint) and he doesn’t really care if they are Jew or Gentile!

God sees the self-righteous person whose attitude is reflected in their judging of others while ignoring self-judgment first. The saved has a righteous attitude that recognizes one thing: it was God’s kindness that led him/her to repentance and therefore he has no need to judge for that is God’s prerogative . The sinner has failed to realize that he/she is without excuse when they judge someone else. For on whatever grounds they judge another, they condemn themselves, because they who judge practice the same things. [Rom 2:2 paraphrase]. Paul in writing to the Romans reminds them of this when he writes about their attitude: “you have contempt for the wealth of [God’s] kindness, forbearance, and patience,”

Jesus’ parable of the Pharisee and a publican reveals this mindset. One day two men went up to the temple to pray. A confident Pharisee stood praying, thanking God for his accumulation of good works all the while judging others. In sharp contrast, the publican would not even look up to heaven and sought the mercy of God. Only one went home justified and it was NOT the Pharisee. He who has ears to hear learn this: “everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted.” [Luke 18]

Like the publican we should be entreating God’s mercy so we can sing “thank you Lord for saving my soul, thank you Lord for making me whole
” for salvation is His work alone.

September 22, 2013

Heart Issues…1Cor 11

In all of life there is an order to be followed. God designed order so that there would be peace and tranquility. He even asked Job where he was when He laid the foundation of the earth for that is when He instituted order in creation. In chapter 10 Paul reminded the Corinthians that orderly public worship brings glory to God. Later Paul will remind the Corinthians: 1Co 14:33 for God is not characterized by disorder but by peace. Thus the principle is this: without order there is disorder and confusion, without order we cannot glorify God, without humility before God we bring dishonor and confusion to our public worship.

Now in the Corinthian church there seems to have been some disorder and confusion and it related to praying and prophesying and the Lord ’s Supper. To set the stage Paul writes: “But I want you to know that Christ is the head of every man, and the man is the head of a woman, and God is the head of Christ.” Further on Paul remarks: “I hear that there are divisions among you and in part I believe it.” Paul notes that this has occurred due to their misunderstanding regarding headship, specifically noted with the issue of head coverings in public worship and their confusion as they take the Lord’s Supper. From this premise Paul speaks to both men and women that they know, understand, and follow this order for one reason; OUR PURPOSE IS TO GLORIFY GOD.

What does this entire section have to do with understanding? What is the bottom line issue that we need to grasp? To help us understand we might look at the parable of the Publican and the Pharisee in Luke 18. Jesus used this parable to teach a principle: God looks at the heart and that is the important issue. In this parable the Pharisee stood and prayed about himself. The Publican stood far off and would not even look up to heaven. One was proud and one was humble. The issue the Corinthians were facing was a problem with pride and arrogance as we have been discussing and this parable reflects where they were spiritually. Paul is saying not only is order needed in the church during public worship but also there must be humility for Jesus taught that it was the Publican that went home justified not the Pharisee.

The relevant issue is this: When we pray or prophesy, when we partake of the Lord’s Supper, we are to be humble before God and before men that God is glorified. The Lord spoke to Samuel “God does not view things the way men do. People look on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”