Simply Yourself – Part 2

ByJim Stephens

Scripture: Luke 18:9-14

9 He told his next story to some who were complacently pleased with themselves over their moral performance and looked down their noses at the common people: 10 “Two men went up to the Temple to pray, one a Pharisee, the other a tax man. 11 The Pharisee posed and prayed like this: ‘Oh, God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, crooks, adulterers, or, heaven forbid, like this tax man. 12 I fast twice a week and tithe on all my income.’ 13 “Meanwhile the tax man, slumped in the shadows, his face in his hands, not daring to look up, said, ‘God, give mercy. Forgive me, a sinner.’ ” 14 Jesus commented, “This tax man, not the other, went home made right with God. If you walk around with your nose in the air, you’re going to end up flat on your face, but if you’re content to be simply yourself, you will become more than yourself.” (Luke 18:9-14 MSG)

In Luke 14:7-14, Jesus told a story about a guest who, when invited to a banquet, tried to get the seat of honor at the head table. He was so embarrassed when that seat was given to another and he had to go sit at the little table in the corner! Jesus said, “Be content to be simply yourself, and you will become more than yourself.”  The point was to not seek position or recognition and to simply be yourself, trusting God to put you in the position he wants you in and give you the recognition he wants you to have.

In this story of a self-satisfied religious man and a sinful but self-aware tax collector, Jesus said the very same words, “Simply be yourself, and you will become more than yourself.”  Here the point is to not trust in your performance of religious duties and activities but to be honest about your heart condition and trust in God’s mercy.

  • Simply Yourself – Part 1: I’ll never achieve success through trying to impress others or depending their recognition to support my self-esteem.
  • Simply Yourself – Part 2: I’ll never change for the better through telling God and others how well I’m performing my religious duties.

I’ll only be successful through allowing God to place me and keep me where he wants me and I’ll only become more like Jesus by being honest with God, myself, and others about who I am. Or in the simply simple words of Jesus, “Simply be yourself, and you will become more than yourself.”

Prayer:

Father, I’m not sure how to do it. I see it, I want it, but the outside pressure to perform and the soulish pressure to impress constantly wars against the gentle inside-whisper to “simply be myself.” Keep reminding me how important this simple truth is to embrace and to apply. I’ll keep listening and responding. By your grace alone. Amen.