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Many thanks to Peter Jones who has prepared this week’s devotions. This week our attention is focused on Luke chapter 14, verses 1-15. Please read these verses every day this week and, if possible, use a different translation each day, asking God to open your eyes to fresh revelation from His Word.
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Luke 14:7-10 (NIV)
‘When he noticed how the guests picked the places of honour at the table, he told them this parable: ‘When someone invites you to a wedding feast, do not take the place of honour, for a person more distinguished than you may have been invited. 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. 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 honoured in the presence of all the other guests.’
I believe parables a very important in helping us to remember what Jesus taught. On this occasion Jesus is teaching us a lesson in human nature using this parable.
I am sure that you have heard the phrase “pecking order”. Sylvia loves birds and has a feeder ball hanging in the garden. Only the small birds can get inside the ball to eat the food and it is interesting to see them trying to get to the food when there are about 8 to 10 birds waiting their turn. It seems that there is an order as to who goes first and the others have to wait their turn. If they try to get in front, then a fight follows and they soon learn their place. I suppose that is where the phrase comes from.
What I think Jesus is saying in this parable is “know your place”. Let me explain; this is a reference to a wedding feast where you have the opportunity to choose your seat. If you arrive early, you possibly have the chance of the best seats. So human nature being what it is, you go to the best seat. However, whilst you may think that you may have a right to your seat because you have arrived early, that is not always the case. I have on a few occasions been asked to move from my seat for a variety of reasons, mostly because I have sat in the wrong seat. When this happens, I feel very embarrassed. What would hurt my pride if I was asked to move to make room for somebody who is more important than me. What Jesus is saying to avoid being hurt or offended, take a lower position and possibly, you may be elevated to a better position. That would certainly make you feel better. I don’t think Jesus is advocating this as a spiritual position, but is teaching us a lesson on human nature and humility.
I read a story recently about Lenny Skutnik. He was on board a plane that crashed into the Potomac River shortly after take-off. Those who survived the crash faced death as the plane sank in the icy waters. A helicopter dropped a rescue line to one of the survivors, but one of the women was too weak to hold on. Lenny Skutnik saw what was happening and dove into the water. He swam out to her and pulled her back to shore, saving her life. Two weeks later, President Ronald Reagan invited Skutnik to attend the State of the Union address, and in describing the accident said: “We saw the heroism of one of our young government employees, Lenny Skutnik, who, when he saw a woman lose her grip on the helicopter line, dived into the water and dragged her to safety.”
Skutnik was honoured by the president of the United States, not because he tried to draw attention to himself but because he did what was right in a crisis. Satan tells us that we need to be sure everything we do is seen and praised. Yet God reminds us that attempts to promote ourselves eventually backfire. Tomorrow we will look at the spiritual context.
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