Click this link to hear an audio version of the below text narrated by SOTH member Jerry Rhinehart:
Luke 14:7-14 (NIV)
7 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.” 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.”
From what did the people need to be freed?
What did each one do, or did they need to do, to be freed?
From which of these issues do you most need to be freed? What might you need to do to be freed?
Lord, pride, and self-centeredness sneak up on me. I want to be accepted and not alone and I think that most people struggle with social status. We are influenced by popularity and mesmerized by wealthy celebrities. I care about how I am perceived by others and part of that is how I look, what I have, what I do, and where I go. It is all pride and turns into a cycle of self-centeredness that pulls me away from You. Forgive me, Lord. There is nothing and no one more important in my life than You, my Lord and Savior, who went against social popularity to bring the truth of salvation and paid for my sins with Your own blood. Keep me humble because I don’t deserve anything that I have, especially everlasting life. Help me keep my focus on You, knowing that You are with me even when I am standing alone but boldly in Your Name and contrary to popular belief. Help me to graciously love, serve and befriend those who are lonely, in need and are struggling on their own and allow me the honor to care for them as You care for me. Keep me aware of pride and self-centeredness so I can squelch them when they try to sneak up on me and get back to praising and serving You. Amen