Be Confident Not Conceited

Confidence and conceit can often be mixed in together; but God wanted us to be very clear of the difference.  As such Jesus told the parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector (Luke 18:9-14).

There we find the Pharisee who praised himself for having done "all" the right things.  What were all the "right" things?  Well for this Pharisee they were sins that anyone could see with the natural eye like adultery,  fornication,  gambling,  drunkenness,  extortion,  lying,  cheating,  stealing and the like. The Pharisee was vain enough to actually thank God that he wasn't like this or like the tax collector who stood near him.  For the Pharisee, he was just proud of himself for going to church and paying his tithes--this somehow made him "righteous." On the other hand there was the tax collector broken and repentant simply asking for mercy for he knew He wasn't worthy of God's grace,  but could confidently ask for it anyways.  

Jesus admired the spirit of humility found in this man because he wasn't caught up with his own works,  as works is not what saves us but it is by His grace that we are saved. 

Often times we can become conceited like the Pharisee and forget why we are where we are today by looking down on others. How quickly many of us forget the torrid and disgusting state the Lord found us and saved us;  moreover He's still working on us. The Pharisee may have overcome some of his fleshly desires,  but he still had pride hidden within and God hates pride.  Many times we are dealing with inner sins that are not so easily detected, yet God still uses us. That's not an opportunity for us to boast at the expense of others,  but it's an opportunity to remember His mercy and grace, thanking Him for forgiveness and access to His throne.  

Jesus said everyone who exalts himself shall be humbled and he who humbles himself shall be exalted.  Today let us live a life of confidence in His love and not of conceit or vainglory in ourselves. Be confident not conceited.