“He also told this parable 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 thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’ But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, 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, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.””
‭‭Luke‬ ‭18:9-14‬ ‭ESV‬‬

All,This stands out because Luke says, “He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt.” Are we justified by our good works or by Christ crucified? It’s easy to slip into a works based mentality, but that is of the flesh. Works are a product of our gratefulness to Christ for His crucifixion for our sins. Please pray that we and our friends realize how dependent we are on Christ. Please pray for Blake and Bartley’s group.