“For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” Luke 14:11
July 19, 2023
First, the story. Jesus told a parable, an earthly story with a heavenly meaning, which reveals how humility shows up in life situations (Luke 14:7-11). Invitations were sent to attend a wedding feast. There was a scramble for the best seats which were near the host. Jesus used the occasion to make a point about the kingdom which he had been preaching. Don’t sit in the reserved section if you don’t want to be embarrassed. At the final judgment (Lk. 13:30), “some are last who will be first and some are first who will be last”. In the coming kingdom, those who have been looked down upon (e.g. the Gentiles by the Jewish leaders) will be honored in the kingdom, whereas those considered the most powerful and influential on earth will not have a place at the table. The humble don’t demand recognition and authority, they let their life of servanthood do the talking. The humble are the true servants of Christ. This makes us ask the question, do I think regularly about the things I can do for others out of love for them? We should meditate on Proverbs 27:2, “Let another praise you, and not your own mouth; a stranger, and not your own lips.”
H
“Thank you, Lord Jesus, for laying down your life for me. Work in me a greater willingness to put others before myself without first considering my own rights.”