And He put forth a parable to those which were bidden, when He marked how they chose out the chief rooms; saying unto them, When thou art bidden of any man to a wedding, sit not down in the highest room; lest a more honourable man than thou be bidden of him; And he that bade thee and him come and say to thee, Give this man place; and thou begin with shame to take the lowest room. But when thou art bidden, go and sit down in the lowest room; that when he that bade thee cometh, he may say unto thee, Friend, go up higher: then shalt thou have worship in the presence of them that sit at meat with thee. For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted. (Luke 14:7-11)
Unlike the Pharisees and other religious leaders who sought the praise of men and promoted themselves, the Lord Jesus extolled His listeners to live humbly and seek the lower seats and await the host to raise them up in honor. Pride and self-promotion will lead to embarrassment in the demotion, but setting ourselves aside and letting others do the promoting will lead to righteous honor.
Jesus knew of what He spoke, for He had humbled Himself, leaving Heaven and His exalted Throne to become a man as we are and for our sin. He abased Himself and was made in the likeness of men, born in the lowest of conditions as the world sees it, and a manger for his first bed, for no one else could pay for the sin of the world. He set aside His Heavenly position, temporarily, to seek and to save the lost, that those who repent and place their trust in Him and His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary might have forgiveness and eternal life through Him. He took our sin upon Himself, abased by all that sin is and all that it costs, including death, that we might receive Him and His righteousness. He purchased our redemption from sin and reconciliation with the Father through His willing sacrifice for sin and God has exalted Him and glorified His Name above all others. He alone is worthy for He alone is the way to the Father and our Salvation.
God sends those of us who are His saints and know Him out into this world to reach the lost that they might be saved from sin. He desires that His people strive to be holy and obedient unto Him that we might minister to those around us who are hurting and in need as He provides. We serve others, equipped with the Word of reconciliation and righteousness, rightly divided and fitly spoken, that they may see Christ in us, the hope of Glory. Our God has commanded us to love one another with an unfeigned love, even as He first loved us, and to disciple one another in the Word of God so that we may all grow in grace and in the Knowledge of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Our Lord has commissioned those who are His with the Gospel of Jesus Christ, to go where He sends us in the power of the Holy Spirit. As we go, we are to proclaim the Good News of forgiveness through repentance and reconciliation with the Father through faith in His Son, that those who believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah of God might have life in His Name.
God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance and the knowledge of the Truth. Jesus loves you and wants to establish a covenant relationship with you that is real and personal. Surrender to Him on His terms and He will give you a brand new life of discipleship and fellowship with Him that is abundant and everlasting. God calls you to faith in Christ and His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary to pay your sIn debt. He has provided the only way of reconciliation with God, forgiveness from God, and Salvation through Jesus Christ, the Son of God who is God the Son, to give you a new life in Christ. Turn away from yourself and your sIn and turn to Him alone for eternal Life, now and always.
In Christ,
Jefferson Sweet