The legalism !

Thursday March 17, 2022

The legalism !

Luke 18:11 – O God, I thank you that I am not like the rest of men, who are robbers, unrighteous, adulterers, or even like this publican.

It goes without saying that if we look carefully, all pardoned that we are, we are all inclined to indulge at one time or another in legalism. How many of us, if we're honest with ourselves, haven't said inwardly what that pharisee said in his prayer.

This pharisee also gave his tithe, he fasted, he must have been very invested in the community of the time. In fact, in the eyes of others and especially his own, he considered himself a good guy. Yet the Word tells us that the publican, standing at a distance, dared not even raise his eyes to heaven ; but he beat his chest, saying : "O God, be merciful to me, a sinner." He went down to his house justified, rather than the other.

We are convinced that if the pharisee had prayed with the tax collector and simply loved him, they both would have come down justified. Nevertheless, by having the attitude that he had, he made himself a judge, he lifted himself up and thus he sinned. It was his attitude of heart that caused grace to depart from him. You follow me ?

The continuation of this text in verse 14 tells us : “For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted”. Perhaps we have distanced ourselves from certain people who are in our eyes sinners. Oh us ! We would never have done what they did. Perhaps we do a lot of things in our assembly, for the Lord, and that is good, but let's not forget that beyond all these good works, it is our attitude of heart that can distance us of the grace of our God.

Good reflection.

Source (Ezekiel 37 Ministries) https://ez37m.com