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with God

Luke 18:10-14 (NLT)

10 "Two men went to the Temple to pray. One was a Pharisee, and the other was a dishonest tax collector. 11 The proud Pharisee stood by himself and prayed this prayer: 'I thank you, God, that I am not a sinner like everyone else, especially like that tax collector over there! For I never cheat, I don't sin, I don't commit adultery, 12 I fast twice a week, and I give you a tenth of my income.'

13 "But the tax collector stood at a distance and dared not even lift his eyes to heaven as he prayed. Instead, he beat his chest in sorrow, saying, 'O God, be merciful to me, for I am a sinner.' 14 I tell you, this sinner, not the Pharisee, returned home justified before God. For the proud will be humbled, but the humble will be honored."

How many times have you seen a picture of someone in a magazine and thought, "I wish I could be like him or her."
Or see people on TV, or even another Christian and you wish you could be like them.
If you do these things you are comparing yourself to another person.
That's the same thing the Pharisee was doing in his prayers. He was comparing himself against the world's definition of acceptance.
But on the other hand, the tax collector, even though he was a hated man (and they are even today), did not compare himself to what the world thought was righteous, but rather he compared himself to God's standards.

We compare ourselves to the world thinking that another person is a better Christian then we are. Or God must love them more because they have more then we do.

But God doesn't care if you fit the world's standards of acceptance.
No, He looks at your heart and brokeness over your sins.
God doesn't want you to be like any other person. God wants you just as you are. Even if you are rejected by the world, God will never reject you.
So remember, whether you are a pastor of a huge church, or a tax collector.
Jesus died for you and loves you for who you are.

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