Daily Devotional – Day 15 Wesley Challenge
Day 15: Do I Thank God That I Am Not Like Others?
Scripture:
Luke 18:10–14
Daily Challenge:
Today, intentionally affirm or encourage someone you might normally overlook or compare yourself to.
Teaching:
It is easy to find another person to compare yourself to. We can compare ourselves to people who we think “have it all figured out” and make ourselves feel envious or worthless. We can also compare ourselves to those we believe are less successful than us in order to make ourselves feel superior and more loved by God. Instead of playing the comparison game, Jesus asks us to instead seek singularly after God’s calling for our lives. In Luke 18, Jesus tells a story of a man who thanks God that he is not like others, while another humbly asks for mercy. Jesus makes it clear that humility, not comparison, is what draws us close to God. When we compare ourselves to others, we either inflate our pride or diminish our worth. Neither leads to life. God calls us to see others not as competitors, but as people created in His image. When we release comparison, we are free to celebrate others while we travel our own journey. Today is an opportunity to replace comparison with compassion.
Reflection Questions:
- Do I tend to compare myself to others in a way that builds pride or insecurity?
- How does comparison affect my relationships?
- What would it look like to celebrate others instead?
Prayer:
God, guard my heart from comparison and pride. Help me to see others the way You see them. Teach me to walk in humility and grace. Replace comparison with compassion in my heart. Help me to love others well.
Notes & Reflections: