7/16/12. Luke 14:7-14. HUMBLE YOURSELF-devotional
7/16/12. Luke 14:7-14. HUMBLE YOURSELF-devotional
Luke 14:7-14 Key Verse: 14:11
Kevin Jesmer NIU UBF Monday, July 16, 2012
“For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”
Dear Lord, thank you for working in our men’s accountably group and helping us to share our hearts and pray for one another. It is very strengthening and encouraging. I pray for men across America and Canada to create such groups so that that may come have wonderful fellowship in the Lord and grow together in Christ. Thank you for Alvin’s hospitality for hosting us and letting us pick blackberries. Please grant me one word of God through this passage. I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen!
Part 1. Take The Lowest Place (7-11).
Verses 7-11, “When he noticed how the guests picked the places of honor at the table, he told them this parable: 8 “When someone invites you to a wedding feast, do not take the place of honor, for a person more distinguished than you may have been invited. 9 If so, the host who invited both of you will come and say to you, ‘Give this person your seat.’ Then, humiliated, you will have to take the least important place. 10 But when you are invited, take the lowest place, so that when your host comes, he will say to you, ‘Friend, move up to a better place.’ Then you will be honored in the presence of all the other guests. 11 For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”
Jesus noticed how the dinner guests all took the places of honor for themselves. Pride and selfishness gave them much too high of an opinion of themselves and too low of an opinion of others. Jesus used a parable to teach them to take the lowest place or else risk humiliation by the host.
Jesus’ point here is that we should take our attention off of ourselves and in humility, value others ahead of ourselves, for Php 2:3 reads, “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves,”
I need to repent of exalting myself about others. I need to think others are better than myself. And this cannot just be lip service. I must truly think of others better than myself. I need to be humble before my kids, and before others at work and before my peers in ministry and those whom God has sent me to study the Bible with. I need to eyes to see myself as I truly am, a sinner in need of a Savior. I am one who has some spiritual ailments who needs a spiritual doctor Jesus. When I see myself as I am, and how much Jesus loves me and forgives me, then a spirit of humility can overwhelm me.
We must strive for sincere humility for this is what Jesus did. Philippians 2:6-8 reads, “Who, being in very nature[a] God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; 7 rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature[b] of a servant, being made in human likeness. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death — even death on a cross.” Jesus set the greatest example of humility. He is God. He is the creator. He is all powerful and all mighty and yet he humbled himself to come and dwell among sinners. He was their friend and ate with them and served them, even washing their feet. He dwells in our hearts and gently leads and guides us. How wonderful! He does all these for me. What a humble God we serve. Lord help me to be like Jesus!
Being humble actually pays off. We think we need to be very proud and fight to grab things in this world. But we do not. God exalts those who humble themselves, God opposes the proud and gives grace to the humble. When we are truly humble then God raises us up and establishes us in high places.
Part 2. Invite Those Who Cannot Repay (12-14).
Verse 12-14, “12 Then Jesus said to his host, “When you give a luncheon or dinner, do not invite your friends, your brothers or sisters, your relatives, or your rich neighbors; if you do, they may invite you back and so you will be repaid.13 But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, 14 and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.”
Humbling ourselves begins as an attitude of the heart and then expresses itself in serving and blessing others. Inviting only our family, friends, and influential people to dine and fellowship with us is not difficult when they can repay us in some form. But Jesus encourages us to throw a banquet for those who cannot repay us in this life, like the poor, crippled, and blind. The privilege to serve someone in need is a great blessing. Moreover, we will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.
I need to serve others without expected to get back. I need to serve never expecting payback or favors. Steve took me out for breakfast. He served and wouldn’t allow me to pay. I want to serve with the right hand and not know what the left hand is doing.
Prayer: Lord, help me not to be self-centered, but Jesus-centered. Open my heart and home to the needy people around me.
One Word: Be humble for God exalts the humble.
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