Why am I here?
Ever feel like you’re in a spot you shouldn’t be?
A couple of years back Hailee and I had won a ticket package in a silent auction.
This allowed our friends Jeremy, Cindy and us to sit in the fourth row at a Pistons game.
It was amazing.
We were running behind so we decided to fork over money to eat at the game.
We weren’t that excited about it, but forth row tickets, we dealt with paying outrageous prices.
We got to the stadium and saw there was a restaurant type place inside.
It had a name on the outside and we tried to go in.
They told us it was a private club and only members were allowed in.
Weak.
Hailee then looked at our tickets again because they had a logo on the bottom.
She asked the same guy that wouldn’t allow us in and said does this mean anything?
The guy told him our restaurant was around the corner on the second level.
We got up there and were treated to a free dinner.
It was a gourmet buffet.
Before, during and after the game we were allowed to come there and eat.
At the end of the game rather than dealing with traffic, we went back up for more food and watch as all the cars left, and we got to go home with no traffic.
Multiple times throughout the night, I felt I shouldn’t be here.
I am a part time youth minister, live in a small house, going to school full time and this was unreal.
I didn’t feel worthy and felt out of place.
It was a great night, yet I didn’t feel I deserved this.
What do we deserve?
Jesus tells us the story about a Pharisee and a tax collector going to pray.
The Pharisee went up to the temple thanked God for he was not like sinful men (Adulterers, evildoers, robbers, even this tax collector) and he fast twice a week and gives a tenth of all he got.
The tax collector, stood a distance away, he wouldn’t even look up and said, “God, have mercy on me, a sinner.”
Jesus said this about the men in Luke 18:14…
“I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”
Jesus can tell who is sincere and who is not.
None of us our worthy enough for Jesus, yet he shows us grace and compassion.
The Pharisee in the story didn’t get this.
He thought faith was about what you did rather than who you are.
The tax collector was real.
He was humbled.
I didn’t feel worthy to be at that basketball game, yet I was and had a great time.
We are not worthy to go to heaven, yet when we have faith and humble hearts to Jesus, we are allowed to be there.
Even when we don’t feel worthy.
Be respectful and earn the right to be worthy before God.
How can you do this today?
Have a great day.
