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About-Him.Com Devotional 01-22-2005
Http://About-Him.Com/ My Thoughts on the Life of Christ, from His Baptism to His Ascension. You recall that Jesus had gone to the house of a rich Pharisee to have dinner on the Sabbath. Things had probably gotten a bit tense because Jesus healed another guest of dropsy and then challenged the Pharisees as to whether or not it was lawful to do good on the Sabbath. Jesus used the occasion to observe those in attendance and to use His observations to put forth kingdom principals. We ignore His principals at our own peril. 162a: The Parable Rebuking Place Seeking - Luke 14:7-14 7 ¶ And he put forth a parable to those which were bidden, when he marked how they chose out the chief rooms; saying unto them, 8 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; 9 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. 10 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. Jesus evidently had noticed that there had been a scramble among the guests to have the best seats in the house, no doubt close to the host and other guests of distinction. The host had the final say on the seating arrangement and it was his prerogative to ask someone to take a less desirable seat then they had chosen. Obviously this would be a great embarrassment. Jesus then uttered a spiritual law that is a foundation of His kingdom: "If we exalt our self, we will be humbled, if we humble ourselves, we will be exalted." Luke 14:11 For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted. Jesus looked around the dining room and it became apparent that the host had invited his relatives and his rich friends, all of whom would no doubt return the favor. Jesus told the host, that he should have rather invited the poor, the lame and the blind. By doing so, he would have a reward at the resurrection of the just. Luke 14:12 Then said he also to him that bade him, When thou makest a dinner or a supper, call not thy friends, nor thy brethren, neither thy kinsmen, nor thy rich neighbours; lest they also bid thee again, and a recompence be made thee. 13 But when thou makest a feast, call the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind: 14 And thou shalt be blessed; for they cannot recompense thee: for thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the just. Conclusion and Application: How often we violate the words of Jesus, by seeking to find favor in the eyes of men, rather then of God? How many of us invite the less fortunate to our homes? How many of us give with no thought of return? How often do we really try to lift the afflictions of others? How many of us can read Isaiah 58:6-7 without being convicted? Isaiah 58:6 Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke? 7 Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh? God puts a great prize on humility. The principal is still in effect that the first shall be last and the last shall be first (Matthew 20:16). God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble (James 4:6). He dwells in the high and lofty place but also with him who has a contrite and humble heart (Isaiah 57:15).
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A woman was trying hard to get the ketchup to come out of the bottle. During her
struggle the phone rang, so she asked her four-year old daughter to answer the phone.
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