READING: Joshua 1-4; Psalm 143; Luke 14
Jesus taught much about humility. That’s a tough topic to teach, because others will automatically gauge your life in light of your own words. If you know you’re proud, you’re not where you should be. On the other hand, if you think you’re humble, you’re probably still not there. Humility is seldom the default position for human beings.
Jesus, though, had a right to speak on the topic. He was God, yet He lowered Himself to reach us. He took the form of a servant and perfectly obeyed the Father, even unto death on a cross (Phil 2:5-11). We must listen to Him on this—and every—topic.
In today’s reading, He illustrates humility by telling His hearers not to seek the best seats at a banquet. Instead, they should seek the “lowest” seats and let the host decide where they should sit. What caught my attention today is the reason we’re not to seek the best seats: “a more distinguished person than you may have been invited by your host. The one who invited both of you may come and say to you, ‘Give your place to this man,’ and then in humiliation, you will proceed to take the lowest place” (Luke 14:8-9).
Here’s what I need to remember: no matter where I am, no matter what I’m doing, no matter what my position is, no matter how well I’m known, no matter what my platform is, there’s always somebody who is “more distinguished” than I am. Only God sits at the top.
PRAYER: “Father, teach me humility.”
TOMORROW’S READING: Joshua 5-8; Psalm 15; Luke 15