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May 9 “When you are invited by someone to a wedding feast, do not take the place of honor, lest someone more distinguished than you may have been invited by him, and he who invited you both shall come and say to you, ‘Give place to this man,’ and then in disgrace you proceed to occupy the last place. 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. For everyone who exalts himself shall be humbled, and he who humbles himself shall be exalted.” Luke 14:8-11. These words of Jesus carry the gospel message for those who are attentive. Yes, we are to have the mindset of a servant—all those around us are to be served by our taking the last place. It may be a parking place that requires a longer walk, or it may be a place at a table that is farthest from the host. Whatever, our spirit joins the Holy Spirit when we see an opportunity for someone else to be honored, and we act in such a way as to fulfill that opportunity. It is not that we secretly want the meeting’s leader to notice our last place. No, it is just that there are others that need to be heard and seen. We shall learn much from this, for we may be in a position to learn more about each other person there. If instead we had taken the favored place, it might be that everything becomes ‘about me’, and that would not honor the other guests. We need to seek the Lord and ask Him to allow us to find the appropriate last place. In a very real way Jesus placed us in the honored place by giving up His life for us at the cross. And He further honored us by giving us His resurrected life. Yes, we have been removed from the last place and given a seat with Him in the heavens! We cannot express enough thanks, Father, for the privilege of serving others. It is satisfying to us as well as to You. Guide us this day into situations where we can give honor to others, all the while being attentive to their needs. Somehow, in ways that we perhaps do not fully understand, we are also serving You as well. Amen. |
