April 15
“Get ‘Em, God!”
Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: “God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.”
But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, “God, have mercy on me, a sinner.”
I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted. ––Luke 18:10-14
I can remember the day clearly: The famous pastor had been caught in an adulterous affair. I was indignant, thinking of all the different ways the man should be punished. This was more than just, “Wow, that’s terrible, and I feel bad for his wife, his kids, and his congregation.” This was animosity at the heart level. I caught myself in a “Get ‘em God!” moment, and I did not like what I saw.
When was the last time you felt good about someone else’s sin or failure? For example: Person A messes up at work. You don’t really like Person A, so when they make a mistake, you secretly feel good. Hard to admit it to yourself, right? Yeah, me too.
At the heart of every God’s man is a potential Pharisee just waiting to point the finger, throw a stone’s-worth of harsh words, and walk away feeling good that “at least it’s not me.” A long-time pastor friend calls it “permissive sin” when we see someone do something wrong and we jump all over them. It’s as if their error/sin gives us the right to pile on (and commit our own internal sins of hate and harsh judgment)!
Man of God, I am not talking about confronting a person in love (which is necessary at times in life). I am talking about harboring joy or satisfaction in your heart when others sin or suffer. Big difference, and it comes down to the condition of your heart. When we confront someone in sin, we follow the biblical rulebook outlined in Matthew 18:15-20:
- Go to that person one-on-one in humility and love (keeping in mind that no one is perfect except Jesus);
- If they do not respond, bring one or more other believers with you to talk with the offender;
- If they still do not respond well, involve church leadership.
The Pharisees did just the opposite of the above: they accused Jesus of dishonoring the Sabbath, of being a fraud or “of the devil,” and litigated his fate behind His back, with malice, fear, and execution in their hearts. We hold on to the Jesus model when confronted with someone else’s sin: Be honest, confront in love, show compassion, and rejoice when they turn it over to God.
Lord, You know that sometimes my heart feels satisfaction when others mess up. Heal my heart and help me have compassion rather than hate, and turn my dark thoughts into Christ-centered action.
This shined a light on my sins. Thank you.
I have asked Christ to save me. I have asked forgiveness of all my sins. I still feel like I’m selfish and trying to make myself look good in others eyes. I feel like I gloat when others around me fail. I feel like I put my kids and wife before almighty God. It scares me to think I might not go to Heaven. How do I fix all this? I’ve prayed and asked God to make me selfless instead of selfish. I want to be more humble and less prideful. My dad is a pastor of a church and I have been going to church all my life, but I’m afraid I’m not going to go to Heaven.
I believe we all have periods in our lives where we feel like that Seth! While the enemy of our soul wants us to continuously doubt our salvation, praise God he has justified us by faith….so continue to believe in His power to redeem us! I was a preacher’s kid too and having raised 4 boys, I can relate to the feelings you expressed. I sense your heart is in the right place and you desire to be more like our Saviour, so I encourage you to keep pressing on!
Online slots are one of the most popular forms of online casino entertainment. They are easy to play, visually engaging, and offer a wide range of themes—from classic fruit machines to adventures, fantasy, or branded games. Players enjoy the excitement of spinning the reels and the possibility of landing bonus features or hitting a jackpot. Many online slots come with stunning graphics, sound effects, and innovative gameplay elements. Thanks to mobile compatibility, you can play your favorite slots anytime, anywhere.
Online slots are a popular choice among casino players due to their simplicity, excitement, and variety. These games are based on spinning reels with different symbols, and players aim to match combinations to win prizes. Many online slots feature bonus rounds, free spins, and progressive jackpots that can lead to huge payouts. With themes ranging from ancient Egypt to modern pop culture, there is something for everyone. Online slots are available on both desktop and mobile devices, making them convenient and fun to play anytime.
https://semaglupharm.shop/# SemagluPharm
http://crestorpharm.com/# CrestorPharm
Order Rybelsus discreetly [url=http://semaglupharm.com/#]Rybelsus for blood sugar control[/url] FDA-approved Rybelsus alternative
Buy statins online discreet shipping: CrestorPharm – Over-the-counter Crestor USA
SemagluPharm: Semaglu Pharm – FDA-approved Rybelsus alternative
http://semaglupharm.com/# Rybelsus 3mg 7mg 14mg
prednisone online pharmacy: buy prednisone online from canada – prednisone 50 mg price
when was lipitor approved [url=https://lipipharm.com/#]LipiPharm[/url] how long after taking omeprazole can i take atorvastatin
Lipi Pharm: Lipi Pharm – how much does 20 mg atorvastatin lower cholesterol
https://semaglupharm.com/# can you take semaglutide a day early
https://crestorpharm.shop/# Crestor Pharm
Crestor Pharm: CrestorPharm – taking rosuvastatin once a week
prednisone 12 mg [url=http://prednipharm.com/#]PredniPharm[/url] prednisone 475
Safe delivery in the US: SemagluPharm – Semaglu Pharm
http://semaglupharm.com/# Semaglutide tablets without prescription