Arrows Not Lines: Discovering a Centered-Set Faithনমুনা

"I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God.” (Luke 18:14)

Jesus tells a story about two men praying at the temple. One is a Pharisee, full of religious credentials. The other is a tax collector, seen as corrupt and sinful. The Pharisee stands proudly, listing all his good deeds. The tax collector beats his chest and cries for mercy.

In a bounded-set model, the Pharisee looks “in” and the tax collector looks “out.” But Jesus shocks his audience by declaring that the tax collector—the one everyone assumed was far from God—is actually the one made right. Why? Because of the direction of his heart.

This parable dismantles the illusion that external status equals spiritual closeness. You can be highly religious and still be facing away from Jesus. And you can be a moral mess, yet genuinely turning toward him.

In a centred set, it’s not your résumé that matters, but your repentance. Not your status, but your sincerity. Not your pride, but your posture.

Reflection Question: Is my spiritual life about proving I’m “in,” or about genuinely turning toward Jesus?

Prayer: God, I don’t want to just appear close to you. I want to actually be close. Help me let go of pride and come to you with honesty and humility.