From: "Phil Rembleski" <PHIl@rescuechurchofchrist.org>
To: "1111RESCUEMEMBERS"
Sent: Tue, Feb 7, 2023 at 6:09 AM
Subject: 2-7-23 THOUGHTS
2-7-23 THOUGHTS
How Jesus taught is a study all to itself. What Jesus taught was always what we desperately needed. Here, I can see Jesus watching the process of men vying for position before a meal. The place of self was vital to them. “Me at the top” was the priority. It wasn’t the “place of honor” that was the problem, it was the SELF PUSH! The latter part of the reading extends the idea to giving and service. Jesus is teaching AGAPE LOVE, as opposed to some self-seeking utilitarian love, where we love for the getting. There is a whole world in this simple teaching! The child of God must not miss this teaching!
Luke 11:43 "Woe to you Pharisees! For you love the chief seats in the synagogues and the respectful greetings in the market places.
Luke 14:7-14 And He began speaking a parable to the invited guests when He noticed how they had been picking out the places of honor at the table, saying to them, 8 "When you are invited by someone to a wedding feast, do not take the place of honor, for someone more distinguished than you may have been invited by him, 9 and he who invited you both will come and say to you, ‘Give your place to this man,’ and then in disgrace you proceed to occupy the last place. 10 "But when you are invited, go and recline at the last place, so that when the one who has invited you comes, he may say to you, ‘Friend, move up higher’; then you will have honor in the sight of all who are at the table with you. 11 "For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted." 12 And He also went on to say to the one who had invited Him, "When you give a luncheon or a dinner, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or rich neighbors, otherwise they may also invite you in return and that will be your repayment. 13 "But when you give a reception, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, 14 and you will be blessed, since they do not have the means to repay you; for you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous."
Matt 23:6 "They love the place of honor at banquets and the chief seats in the synagogues,
Mark 12:38-40 In His teaching He was saying: "Beware of the scribes who like to walk around in long robes, and like respectful greetings in the market places, 39 and chief seats in the synagogues and places of honor at banquets, 40 who devour widows’ houses, and for appearance’s sake offer long prayers; these will receive greater condemnation."
My Prayer:
Help us always to see, O God, that the squabbles of the self-seeking, are not the place for your people to be. Teach us to give with pure love and joy, expecting nothing in return. Help us to gratefully see every blessing you pour into our cup. Mature us Father-God, so that we can see this beautiful and right sense. It is your design for our right living. Bless us to make it work as we walk each day. May we fully comprehend that it is more blessed to give than to receive. It’s in Jesus’ name that we pray, Amen.