Matthew 23:12
“Whoever exalts
himself will be humbled; but whoever humbles himself will be exalted.”
Most of the time,
either as the host or the guest, we forget the real purpose of why we offer a
party or a dinner. As the host, we would
like to invite the rich and the famous so in the future, we might be invited by
them in return. We would serve the best
and expensive foods, so our friends would exalt us, telling us how rich and
blessed we are.
And as guest, we would come in lavish gowns
and dress and would seat ourselves near the host, so we would be included in
all the pictures. Also, so everyone
would notice the dress and jewelries that we are wearing, so our friends would
exalt us, telling us how rich and blessed we are.
This is exactly what Jesus, in his parables
during the dinner with the Pharisees, wants us to realize and eventually
refrain from doing. Every dinner that we
have to host or attend, do it out of love, invite out of the goodness of your
heart. Don't look for status, but rather
bless each other with your generosity.
God invites to his own table not those who
can do something for Him, who can bring him expensive gifts and loud praises; but
the hurting, the oppressed, those who have nothing to bring, the crushed and
brokenhearted. The Father invites them to His table, not to help Himself, but
to help them. Not to receive a blessing, but to bless them fully.
Through Jesus, we received the open
invitation of the Father. You and I have
received an invitation to His table for no other reason than love, abundantly
seasoned with grace. Accept the
invitation, and live.
Let us pray +
Father, sometimes I can be a cynical as the
Pharisees sitting at this table. Cleanse and renew me. Perfect and refine my
motives so that your heart might fill mine, and your desires might become my
own. Forgive me and make me whole. In
Jesus' name, I pray. Amen +
The Lord will not abandon his people.
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