Walk in the Spirit

He also told this parable to some people who trusted in themselves and we're confident that they were righteous and scorned and made nothing of all of the rest of men:

" Two men went up into the temple to pray, the one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee took his stand ostententaciously and began to pray thus before and with himself. 'God I thank you that I am not like the rest of men- extortion era, swindlers, unrighteousness in heart and in life, adulterers- or even like this tax collector here. I fast twice a week and I give tithes of all I gain.'

But the tax collector, merely standing at a distance, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but kept striking his breast, saying, 'O God, be favourable, gracious and merciful to me, the especially wicked sinner that I am.'

I tell you this man went down to his home justified and forgiven and made in right standing with God rather than the other man, for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted." Luke 18:9-14

If we are honest, there is a pride factor in all of us. It is sneaky and pops up when we least expect it. What starts out a mere relating of fact soon provides a platform for pride. Yet it was not pride that drives us to do good works, rather it will be compassion or faith. Pride is lazy but pounces on any opportunity to flaunt it self, as does others like it, for example self-pity. This lot belong to the flesh and we know no good thing comes from the flesh but rather the spirit.

What drove the Pharisee to be a Pharisee? Did he set out to be one because of the accolades he imagined he would receive or was it a nobler cause? However, the man above has lost his way and been deceived by the outward appearance of 'goodness.' True goodness is where we find the heart of God and live out of that. Yet living to appear good is a recipe for disaster.

Pharisees are public, at church or in the media. We will see this sneak pop up its head when it appears praise for activity might be abroad. If we have insight into ourselves we can detect it and repent. I find myself repenting often. I don't set out to be proud but it lurks there waiting to show off.

Pretending pride is not around or a part of us is foolish, it is there, waiting for an opportunity. Sin is like that, it wants to have a turn and bring us down. Walking in the Spirit is how we defeat the sucker. The challenge is staying in the Spirit. Smith Wigglesworth used to say, the only life worth living is that done in the Spirit, otherwise you may as well not go out, until you have found the Spirit. Phil  Pringle says: 'stay in the zone!' Paul the apostle says: 'if you walk in the Spirit you do not fulfill the lusts of the flesh.'

The challenge today is: walk in the Spirit! Amen!