9-9-24
THOUGHTS
There’s a simple point of living in our reading this morning. It’s a
point preached by the inspired writers over and over. Humility as we
process life is God’s way. Take the last place and let God lift you up if
it be so. Matt 20:16 “So the last shall be first, and the first
last: for many be called, but few chosen.” Col 3:12
“So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a
heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience;”
The application of compassionate, humble serving is God’s way for us. Acts
20:35 "In everything I showed you that by working hard in this
manner you must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that
He Himself [Jesus] said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’"
Can we learn the blessedness that is in this powerful idea?
It’s a fundamental part of our having the “mind of Christ.”
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."
My Prayer:
Father, help us
to learn these principles sufficiently that we live them out in our lives. May
they become natural and spontaneous as we joyfully promote Your Kingdom.
May this be the practice of love ruling in us. We pray for the joy of Your
salvation in the fullest and realest of ways. We thank You and praise You
for making things the way that You did. Help us to see Your love in
all. In the name of Jesus, Amen.