When He noticed how the guests picked the places at the table, he told them this parable: "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. If so, the host who invited both of you will come and say to you, 'Give this man 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.'...For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted." Luke 14:7-11 (NIV)
God, others, me... "I'm third" I heard on the radio earlier today that a camp (Camp Kanakuk) teaches kids this phrase. Wow, if we could really live that out!!! I want to be a humble person. Yet, ironically, there are times when my insecurities influence my behavior and I try to act a certain way to hide my self-perceived flaws or I do not reach out to people because I fear their response. I end up putting my fears and feelings ahead of loving others the way I should...thereby bumping them to third place. Wait a minute, humble does not = insecure! I have been guilty of using the above passages to justify my insecurities (thinking that my feeling that I am not as good or as smart as others is a method of humbling myself) when that is not at all the purpose for which these scriptures are intended.
"For He chose us [ME!!] in Him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love He predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with His pleasure and will" Ephesians 1:4-5 (NIV)
"For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." Ephesians 2:10 (NIV)
Now THAT is who I am in Christ!! The God of the universe takes pleasure in ME!...and YOU*!!! (*YOU=born again Christian. If you have not asked for and received God's forgiveness and invited Christ to be Lord of your life, these are the promises that you WILL receive by doing so)
Who you are in Christ:
You are FREE from condemnation. (Rom 8:1-2)
You are more than a conquerer in Christ. (Rom 8:37)
God has not given you a spirit of fear but of power, love and a sound mind. (2 Tim. 1:7)
You can approach God with freedom and confidence. (Eph 3:12)
You can do ALL things through Christ who strengthens you. (Phil. 4:13)
God is working all things together for your good. (Rom. 8:28)
Okay, now back to the "I'm third" idea...we can't live this out unless we know who we are in Christ. We need that assurance--our confidence/identity in Christ--in order to boldly love others like we should. Psychology says we can't love others if we don't love ourselves. I know myself better than anyone...the good, the bad, the ugly (selfish). If that (my flesh) is all there is to me, I'm not going to have a lot of love to give; BUT (praise God!) that's not all...God has placed the Holy Spirit inside of me...God's power, God's leading, God's grace, God's mercy, God's unconditional love...all that lives in me!! Hallelujah! Because He first loved me, I can love others. (1 Jn 4:19)
Holy Father, thank you for Your love and forgiveness. Help me remember who I am in You so that I can love those around me through You. I can't put others second, unless You are first. Help me to remember You have given me everything I need to live out your commands. (1 Pet 1:3-4) I want to develop the specific gifts and talents You have given me to serve others. Give me faith to trust Your plan and guard my heart from desires to serve my own will. Amen.
