Luke 14:7-11 Where Should I Sit?
Format for Your Devotions
Instructions: Do not read my example devotion until you have completed your own devotional time in the scriptures. Reading my thoughts first may limit your own understanding. Let the Holy Spirit speak to you alone before looking to see what anyone else has to say, whether it is me, a Bible commentary, or a friend. Let God speak to you before you let another person speak to you. I have provided a format, but modify it to fit your needs. For example, I usually combine my application and prayer together talking to God about the application to my own life. You can go through this devotion process mentally, speaking out loud, or in writing as you wish. Don’t worry if you are not following this process exactly. Sometimes, I add extra information and sometimes I emphasize one part more than others. However, you should always think about what you learn about God from this passage.
Step 1: Pray–Ask for the Holy Spirit’s guidance first of all and that God may reveal the lessons that He wants you to have that day. Request that God protect you from Satan’s distractions (and the devil will try to distract you whether it is pinching the baby or putting you to sleep). Ask to see God more clearly as you read and think about the passage.
Step 2: Read the passage–Read to get an overview of the information first. Then start looking at specific parts after the first reading. You may read a larger or smaller section than I have here because you do not have to follow my organization at all.
Step 3: Understand the passage–You can summarize, ask and answer your own questions about the passage, visualize the story, analyze the characters, and relate this passage to other scriptures and personal experiences.
Step 4: What does this reveal about God?–What do you learn about the Father, Son, and/or Holy Spirit from this passage?
Step 5: Apply this to your own life.
Step 6: Prayer
My Example Devotion: September 24, 2018 Luke 14:7-11
Note: In the devotion examples, I leave my questions and thought processes in the text because I am trying to demonstrate that a devotional time is a dialogue with God about what you are reading from His word. As such, any questions or ideas that you have should be explored by talking it out with God. These example devotions are not my attempts to teach you what the meaning of a particular scripture is. They are an attempt to teach you the process of devotions, which is a combination of prayer and Bible study where you explore ideas with God as you read His word.
Now he told a parable to those who were invited, when he noticed how they chose the places of honor, saying to them, “When you are invited by someone to a wedding feast, do not sit down in a place of honor, lest someone more distinguished than you be invited by him, and he who invited you both will come and say to you, ‘Give your place to this person,’ and then you will begin with shame to take the lowest place. But when you are invited, go and sit in the lowest place, so that when your host comes he may say to you, ‘Friend, move up higher.’ Then you will be honored in the presence of all who sit at table with you. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”
(Understanding the Text) Jesus had been invited to eat in the home of a Pharisee on the Sabbath. Evidently, it was considered to be holy to share a Sabbath meal with other people. Before they sat down at the table, Jesus healed a man with dropsy and sent him home. Thus, He was already out-of-sync with His Pharisee host and the other guests. Then they sat down at the table to eat. Evidently, there were some seats that were considered places of honor and others that were lower. I imagine that Jesus was an honored guest and so was placed at a place of honor, but if He was not, He would not have cared. I picture some of the men present posturing with each other over who was going to sit where and some of the dominant ones forcing others to move down. Maybe there was a chain reaction of people having to change chairs as those higher than them took their places and they in turn used their authority to force someone else out of his chair. It may have been a bit awkward and something of a scene. This may have been why Jesus commented on it.
(Revelation of God) Jesus said to choose a lower place than you are entitled to rather than trying for the highest place. Jesus was emphasizing humility over pride and ambition. He was trying to give the principles of heaven to a group of people who claimed that they served God better than anyone else. Jesus was showing them that their whole way of life was opposite from what their God did. Jesus was an example of God taking the lowest place rather than the exalted position that He was entitled to.
(Application / Prayer) God’s ways are totally opposite from the world’s ways. I understand that on one level, but on another level, my very nature rebels against God’s logic. I am so far from God’s ideal that I cannot even want to be like that even though I know that theoretically it is best for me. I pray that You will make me like You following where Your lead. I need to be humble and not expect too much from others; instead, I need to be happy for what they give rather than expecting service. I am not good at loving people. They are frustrating and messy. I prefer nature and the wind. Help me to serve You with Your messy, frustrating people.