SCRIPTURE: Luke 14:11 (CEB) – larger reading, Luke 14:7-14
All who lift themselves up
will be brought low, and those who make themselves low will be lifted up
STORY:
Wakefield tells the story of the famous inventor Samuel
Morse who was once asked if he ever encountered situations where he didn't know
what to do. Morse responded, "More than once, and whenever I could not see
my way clearly, I knelt down and prayed to God for light and
understanding."
Morse
received many honors from his invention of the telegraph but felt undeserving:
"I have made a valuable application of electricity not because I was
superior to other men but solely because God, who meant it for mankind, must
reveal it to someone and He was pleased to reveal it to me."
OBSERVATION:
At special events in the
middle-east position was everything. It told all those gathered just how
important or unimportant a person was. There was a definite peaking order
within society. Jesus, in the Luke story, illustrates for each of us that we
should not think more highly of ourselves.
In fact, he says that it would be better to think of ourselves less than
we are allowing the host of the wedding celebration to elevate us to a better
seat.
Such is the role of a
disciple. Samuel Morse understood that he had a role to play in God’s universe.
It was a role that he humbly accepted. He acknowledged that he was the
benefactor of God’s blessing to be the one that God decided to use at a
particular time in history with a particular idea. To God be the glory.
Isn’t it amazing what God
does with what he has to work with! Such is your lot and mine. Whatever happens
in and through us is not of our doing, but of God’s plan and purpose.
We’ve all known individuals
who like to be seen and heard – out front, up front, and in the limelight (so
to speak). God can use those people, but only with limited results because they
(we) keep getting in his way.
I remember one particular
occasion in my ministry. I was serving my first church after graduating from
seminary. Worship had been particularly exciting. There was lots of energy. And
I thought the sermon went particularly well. As they say, “I hit the ball out
of the park.” Or, so I thought. When I got home we discussed the service and
the sermon. My wife’s only comment was, “Well, it was going pretty good until
you got in the way.” Ouch!
Jesus taught us that we
should get out of God’s way. Samuel Mores understood that. As disciples, called
to be servants of the Most High God, we simply should allow God to use us as
well as receive all the credit. Any talent or skills or abilities that we have
they all came from God anyway.
Here’s to becoming better in
this disciple business!
PRAYER:
It feels good when we hear
people praise us, but remind us that we should deflect all the praise to you.
We are servants of your kingdom and followers of the King.
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