The Pharisee Moment

“And when the Pharisee saw it, he was surprised that He had not first ceremonially washed before the meal. But the Lord said to him, ‘Now you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and of the platter; but inside of you, you are full of robbery and wickedness. You foolish ones, did not He who made the outside make the inside also? But give that which is within as charity, and then all things are clean for you.’” Luke 11:38-41, NASB.

I think today's most important lesson actually happened off campus. I wanted to have lunch in one of my favorite little restaurants but discovered it was way too crowded. I picked another little place at random and ordered chicken adobo (a delicious Filipino classic). There didn’t seem to be any available tables, so I went upstairs. I was unpleasantly surprised when I reached the top of the stairs—I discovered it was the smoking section. “I don’t like this,” I said to myself, “it stinks here and I don’t want to smell like smoke when I leave.” I sat down near a fan, directed it at myself and turned it on; hoping that it would blow the smoke away from me.

About five male students from my target campus were sitting at a nearby table. We struck up a conversation almost immediately as they puffed on their post meal cigarettes. They were quite friendly and asked me a few questions about what I do on campus. I talked to them about Bible study and the importance of having a relationship with God. We all swapped numbers before I left and I told them I wanted to see them again.

As I left the restaurant I thought about what had just happened. I couldn’t “see” the students when I first arrived in that room—I only noticed the unpleasant smoke. I almost missed a chance to talk with students who need the Savior’s touch. I wonder if this is a metaphor for my attitude towards those who need Jesus. I guess sometimes I do not see the people behind the things which I find offensive.

Forgive me Lord, for my Pharisee moments. They happen more often than I want to admit.

Pray that:

Believers in the Pacific Rim will have grace to look past the sin and have Christ’s compassion on the sinners.

Self-righteousness will not keep Christians in the Pacific Rim from being involved in the main thing – sharing the Gospel with the lost.

These five students met by a Christian in a smoky restaurant will come to faith in Jesus Christ.

Pacific Rim is a region of the International Mission Board, SBC.