Then Jesus noticed that some of the guests were choosing the best places to sit. So Jesus told this story: "When a person invites you to a wedding, don't sit in the most important seat. The person may have invited someone more important than you. And if you are sitting in the most important seat, then the person that invited you will come to you and say, 'Give this man your seat!' Then you will begin to move down to the last place. And you will be very embarrassed. So when a person invites you, go sit in the seat that is not important. Then the person that invited you will come to you and say, 'Friend, move up here to this better place!' What an honor this will be for you in front of all the other guests! Every person that makes himself important will be made humble. But the person that makes himself humble will be made important."
— Luke 14:7-11 NLT
Key Thought
Most of us detest self-promotion when we see it in someone else. However, each of us has a strange ability to find "reasons" why we "need" to promote ourselves. Jesus wants us to give up on our self-promoting ways. He calls us to be humble and then let God do the exalting. We shouldn't be surprised when the apostle Paul held Jesus up as the perfect example of humility—didn't cling to position, emptied himself of self-promotion, was obedient to God and God exalted him at the proper time (Phil. 2:5-11). Pride is destructive, selfish, and poisonous to Christian service and maturity. Let's humble ourselves before God and trust our time for being honored to him.
Today's Prayer
Father, I confess to you that I feel overlooked and under-appreciated. Part of me longs for the spotlight and the accolades that come with it. Yet, dear Father, I know that it is foolish pride grabbing my heart. I know Satan longs to use that pride to incite envy, pettiness, gossip, vanity, and a host of other unholy traits in me. Humble me gently Father, for I do trust the estimation of my value to you. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
Related Scripture Readings
- Isaiah 57:15
- Philippians 2:5-11
- 1 Peter 5:6
About This Devotional
What Jesus Did is a one-year devotional guide through the gospels, using one short passage each day and following the Gospel in consecutive order. Each devotional consists of a passage, reflection and a prayer which opens up the day's scripture and shows how it challenges you to live for Jesus.
What Jesus Did! is written by Phil Ware.
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
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