I have a confession to make. I was sitting in church today, pretending to listen to the sermon, but instead was rummaging through my Bible when I ran across some notes I scratched in the back. There wasn’t a date (but had to have been since 2008 when I bought the Bible). There were two columns: “Pharisee” and “Recovering Pharisee.” What I read struck me like a two by four.
Apparently I had been listening to someone’s sermon when I wrote these notes. The Pharisee list said: self-absorbed, morality watchdog, very religious, guardian and protector of system, doesn’t like surprises, practices exclusion, easier to look the part than be a part, truth is threatening, law condemns. Ouch!
Then here comes the Recovering Pharisee list: reflective, gracious, compassionate, celebratory, believes in clean heart, freedom in God’s grace, set apart. On the same page, there were two questions: How do we keep from being self-absorbed, exclusive and uncaring? Do we care more about policy than people, law and order than compassion?
I may never remember when that sermon was given, but today I was grateful those notes were written and that today I was brought back to reality. When I busy myself too much and lose focus upward, I start looking outward and veer to the Pharisee in me. I want to be able to see people as Jesus sees them and to respond to them the way He does. I want to love and respect people. The world will be a better place not because I condemn someone, but when I stop acting like the Pharisee and wrap myself in the towel and take up the basin, as Christ did.
I may be on my knees confessing for a long, long time. Can you relate?
Acts 19:18 “Many of those who believed now came and openly confessed what they had done.”
Tagged: gratitude, kindness and compassion
