Welcome friends to Preach It Girl Podcast, where we aren't just sitting around waiting for Jesus to return or skinny pop to make us skinny. No, ma'am. I mean, those things are bound to happen, but while we wait, join me. Auntie La La for a jaunt through the scriptures so lively, you'll think they were written just yesterday, not 2,000 years ago. Now put on your listening ears for a somewhat sassy retelling of stories from the Bible. We're in Luke chapter 18, another parable featuring a Pharisee, and this time a tax collector. If you've watched The Chosen, you'll remember this one from season three, episode eight is such a powerful depiction. This story makes me fall in love with Jesus all over again. We see his ability to look beyond actions and see the motivations of the heart. Unlike us, who are so easily deceived, he sees what's really going on in those hidden corners of our hearts. Alright, let's read the scripture from Luke chapter 18, and it's called the Pharisee and the Tax Collector. He also told this parable, Jesus, to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and treated others with contempt. Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed, God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even this tax collector over there. I fast twice a week. I give tithes of all that I get, but the tax collector, standing far off, would not lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his chest, saying, God, be merciful to me, a sinner. I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and the one who humbles himself will be exalted. Doesn't hypocrisy stink? I mean, I don't think the purpose of this parable is for us to strive for perfection. It's to remind us not to trust in our own righteousness. Resist the temptation to justify yourself, especially by comparison to others. The beauty of this parable is in the generosity of God. No matter the offense, however foul, it can be redeemed and forgiven. The only requirement is a humble heart. Let's talk about the tax collector. He was the worst in Jewish society, and for good reason. They weren't misunderstood entrepreneurs, they were traitors. Imagine if your cousin sold you and your family into slavery to a cruel master. That's what it felt like. The Romans were brutal oppressors who crushed the spirits of those they ruled. This parable exposes the lie that says, I'm a good enough person, especially when you think about those people over there. That kind of thinking won't save you on that great and terrible day of the Lord when we all must give an account, Judgment Day. It can either be a celebration of God's goodness or the beginning of a hellish eternity. Do not trust in your own righteousness. Human righteousness is not God's righteousness. Human rightness is not God's rightness. God says our rightness is like filthy rags, decaying garbage. The very moment you think you're good enough is clue number one that you're not. What I love about this parable is that God isn't looking at the outside. Unlike our world, he doesn't care about wealth, status, or good manners. He looks at the heart. Repentance. Just the word can feel like an affront. Repentance. We look around and think, surely God doesn't require me to repent. I'm good compared to that tax collector. I'm good compared to that Democrat. I'm good compared to that Republican. Don't you know people are thinking that? Uh that oppressor, that awful person. I'm good compared to them. But that's exactly the trap. It's rampant today. People justifying violence, revenge, or cruelty because of how they've been treated or how they perceive others. And on the flip side, some stay silent about sin out of fear, afraid to be judged or called out or to be canceled. But repentance isn't punishment. It's a gift, a free gift that cancels our debt. One of the ways we can tell that there's a real enemy of our souls is how we are deceived about repentance. The devil wants you to think sin is freedom and repentance is bondage, but it's the opposite. Repentance frees us and absolves us. The devil also wants you to believe that all paths lead to God, that Allah, Buddha, or good vibes. They're all the same. But only Jesus paid for our wrongs. God is love and fully just. Or we think, oh, this little thing, it's not really anything. But you know what? I grew up praying. We had a confession prayer in our prayer book, and it said, God, forgive us our sins known and unknown, things said and left unsaid. I love that because it's a powerful prayer, one that we need more than ever. Because there's plenty of things that I hide from myself. Even the corners of my own heart, I have justified things that I may not even realize that I'm justifying. Especially when I'm thinking about what's best for Laurel. Auntie Lala. So what should we do? Some think because they've suffered an injustice, they don't need to repent. But that's just not true. We've all offended God's perfect way. The most important thing you'll ever do is get honest with God. He already knows everything. He tells us, he draws near to the humble and brokenhearted, but he opposes the proud. In a quiet moment before you go to sleep, or maybe when you first wake up, tell him, God, I don't understand everything, and I'm angry about some things. What do you want me to know about that? What do you want me to know about you? He speaks and he will speak to you. You were made to hear his voice. And if you sense some resistance, just say, Shut up, devil, I ain't listening to you. Ask God to silence every voice but his.