You might have heard a subtle notion somewhere along the way, that some people are just more chosen by God. It’s as if they’re closer to Him, somehow, than you are.
Maybe it was the person who always seems to have the perfect words to pray. Or perhaps someone whose ministry seems so much bigger than yours, or whose relationship with God looks so effortless compared to the challenges you’re still facing. Either way, this comparison made you believe that grace isn’t the same for everyone, and that yours might be a bit smaller.
In Luke chapter 18, Jesus shared a story about two men visiting the temple to pray. One was a Pharisee, who was quite proud of his own achievements. Imagine him standing there, boasting to God about his good deeds: fasting twice a week, giving a tenth of his income, and being different from everyone else.
The other man was a tax collector, someone his community had already given up on. He didn’t even look up to heaven. Instead, he simply said, “God, be merciful to me, a sinner.”
Jesus explained that the tax collector, not the Pharisee, went home right with God. It wasn’t because his sin was less serious. It was because he stopped comparing himself to others and simply asked for mercy.
Romans 3:23 declares, "All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." Later in the chapter it declares, "We are justified freely by His grace." Not most. Not the especially gifted. All.
You've hear it stated, "The ground is level at Calvary." There are no big I's or little You's at the foot of the Cross.
Your need for God's mercy does not shrink just because your struggle stays out of view. It doesn’t shrink for the person with a larger platform, regardless of how put-together their life appears.
Comparison rarely fosters humility. Instead, it often leads to either pride or discouragement, depending on the perspective from which one views it.
None of those three habits are new. They are just old fashioned pride wearing spiritual language.
God is not waiting for you to close some imaginary gap between yourself and someone more impressive before He will use you. His presence has never been reserved for people who look the part. I have written before about how His presence is available right now, not stored up for the especially gifted, and that promise does not shrink depending on who you happen to be standing next to.
The same freedom applies to how you pray and how you serve. You do not need an audience to prove your faith is real, and you do not need a rank to prove it is enough. Imagine what it looks like when faith stops needing an audience.
This is just as true if you are the one leading, teaching, or shepherding other people. Real leadership means leading people instead of owning them.
The moment you genuinely believe the ground is level at Calvary, the performance ceases, because there was never a rank to be earned in the first place. Instead, there was an inherent grace that was already sufficient for us all. You were never behind. You were never ahead. You were just standing right where grace already reached you.
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Remember..."The Word Will Work, If You Work the Word."
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