Scripture: Luke 7:36-50
Journal: How are you like the Pharisee?
Where do judgment and criticism live in your heart? What do you learn from the sinful woman
today? How will you be more like
her?
Reflection:
I’ve always prided myself in not being a
“rules” guy, ready to strike a blow against legalism whenever it rears its ugly
head. But lately I’ve come to the
realization that I’ve got a lot more Pharisee in me than I care to admit. It most often shows itself in the form of
judgment and criticism. Oh, it doesn’t
always end up coming out of my mouth (although it comes out a lot more often
than I wish it did), but it is always a regular part of my inner dialogue.
It seems that I have an
enormous need to be right. And if you,
like me, have an ever-increasing need to be right, then you also need someone
to be wrong. That’s where the judgment
and criticism comes in. You are always
making a case for yourself, always comparing yourself. Which also means you are also making a case
against those on the opposing side of the fence, or, strangely enough, even
against those on your side of the fence at times. You are always picking out the flaws in
others to make yourself feel better about your own. And if you are totally honest, this whole
ugly process comes from one horrible source—insecurity. The Pharisees must’ve been the most insecure
group of people on the entire planet.
And I ought to know, because, in spite of my best wishes not to be, I
am, it seems, a card-carrying member. My
constant inner dialogue proves it.
The answer, it would seem,
to this dilemma is transformation. I
need to have the way I see things completely transformed. I need to begin to see myself and my
world—and even my God—through the eyes of the sinful woman rather than the eyes
of the Pharisee. I need to know the
depths of my own sinfulness, as well as the unfailing nature of His love. I need to find my security, not in my own
efforts, but in His great affection.
Then, and only then, can I choose security over insecurity, love over
judgment, humility over criticism, compassion over competition, and community
over comparison. Then I will begin to
see all things through the lenses of his grace and mercy, which will produce a
deep gratitude in me. Then I will be
able to love much, because I will finally realize that I have been forgiven
much.
Prayer
Closing
Prayer: Lord Jesus, help me to see through the eyes of
love rather than judgment, the eyes of humility rather than criticism, the eyes
of compassion rather than competition, and the eyes of community rather than
comparison. In other words, help me to
see more like you. Amen.
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