Thursday, 16 March 2017

East Ridge Pres

Luke 14:7-11 Now he told a parable to those who were invited, when he noticed how they chose the places of honor, saying to them, “When you are invited by someone to a wedding feast, do not sit down in a place of honor, lest someone more distinguished than you be invited by him, and he who invited you both will come and say to you, ‘Give your place to this person,’ and then you will begin with shame to take the lowest place. But when you are invited, go and sit in the lowest place, so that when your host comes he may say to you, ‘Friend, move up higher.’ Then you will be honored in the presence of all who sit at table with you.” “Sit in the lowest place.” Jesus is not concerned simply about wedding feasts and symbolic seating arrangements. He is interested in much more than that. He is addressing all of our lives. Everywhere we go, every corner, every occasion, every situation. “Sit in the lowest place.” Jesus teaches. Always take the lowest place. What does this mean? Let me give one example. Are you a parent with children in the home? You take the lowest place in the family as the servant of your children/spouse, not the grumpy boss. Not the overlord of many moods. You still lead but you lead from a place of humility and service. Are you still a child in the home under your parents? Accept your place. Honor your parents. Thank them for their hard work. Recognize they are in charge. Submit. Serve them and stop demanding their service all the time. Ease their load. That can be applied to school, the workplace, social occasions, meeting a friend for coffee, etc. What does it mean for you to take the lowest place today in each place you go? How do you humble yourself? How do you reject the superior position over others? This is a question that you must consider today. “For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” If you continue to exalt yourself, take the superior position above others, God will one day humble you and bring you low. But if you humble yourself, acknowledge your sin and weakness, and take a place below others. God will one day (and this may have to wait until the very last day, the day Jesus returns) God will one day lift you up. Acknowledge you before all people as his disciple. Jesus says, “Then you will be honored in the presence of all who sit at table with you.”