Holier than Jesus?
Are you trying to be holier than Jesus? A shocking question, isn’t it? But – Lord, have mercy – unfortunately a valid one. With the words of Brennan Manning “Christians have an unfortunate tendency to be preoccupied with the trivial”. When we occupy our time with being just right with every little trivial thing, we are trying to be holier than Jesus. But that is never possible. And Jesus did not have a condemning attitude. He oozed love and grace. Where did we go wrong?
“It’s easy to see a smudge on your neighbor’s face and be oblivious to the ugly sneer on your own. Do you have the nerve to say, ‘Let me wash your face for you,’ when your own face is distorted by contempt? It’s this I-know-better-than-you mentality again, playing a holier-than-thou part instead of just living your own part. Wipe that ugly sneer off your own face and you might be fit to offer a washcloth to your neighbor. (Luke 6: 41-42, MSG)
We go wrong when we start playing a holier-than-thou part instead of just living our own part. We go wrong when we have this I-know-better-than-you mentality. We go wrong when we thing it is about us or them. Because it is not.
It is about God and his astonishing love for us.
It is about God and his amazing grace for us.
What to do then? How can we leave the land of Pharisees behind? Kurt Bubna in his new book Epic Grace, Chronicles of Recovering Idiot writes “The transformation from modern-day Pharisee to grace-filled follower of Christ is a challenging one for many of us.” But like everything else in life, it is possible by God’s grace. Kurt continues “The transformation starts in our hearts and begins with a simple yet powerful prayer ‘Jesus, make me more like you'”. YES!
God does not want us to concentrate on nit-picking. He wants us to center our thoughts on loving God and all his children. God does not want us to major on fault-finding. He wants our lives to revolve around embracing grace and extending it to others.
If we do this, we are radically free. Just like Jesus.
Gracious God,
Help us to embrace your freedom
and never let go of it.
Enable us to stop nit-picking
and fully embrace your grace.
Transform us, Lord.
Pour out grace upon grace.
Love upon love.
Make us more like you!In Jesus’ name,
Amen
Q4U: Do you struggle with a holier-than-thou attitude or I-know-better-than-you mentality? What has helped you to stop trying to be holier than Jesus?
Be blessed, my fellow pilgrim, as you claim your freedom in Christ and extend it to others too!
Image courtesy of Kevin Carden, design Mari-Anna Stålnacke. Linking up today with Wisdom Wednesday, Unite the Bloggersphere and #tellhisstory.
This post is part of #EpicGraceWednesdays. I am blogging through Kurt Bubna’s Epic Grace. Join me every Wednesday!
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review (or any review for that matter). The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
4 thoughts on “Holier than Jesus?”
Dear Mari-Anna
Yes, we are all guilty to some degree of this fallacy! And I truly think that we are totally helpless to get rid of this attitude. We need our Pappa’s patient love and grace to uproot all the Pharisee roots from the garden of our hearts!
Blessings XX
Mia
Yes, that’s true. But if we keep praying this daily, we can have a glorious spiritual garden. All by God’s grace. Thanks so much, Mia, for chiming in. Abundant blessings on your way!
It is all about grace and His amazing love…isn’t it, my friend! Thanks for sharing with us at UNITE Tuesdays! Hope to see you again! ~ Jen
Thanks for stopping by and commenting, Jen! Yes, grace is all we need. Abundant blessings to you and yours!