Get the appLent: Journey According To LukeSample
TAKE YOUR SEAT – HUMBLY!
DEVOTION
Jesus’ teaching is full of practical wisdom. This parable describing how to take a seat in a wedding banquet is most relevant to Asian culture. Asians hold banquets on many happy occasions, not only weddings, but also birthdays, job promotions and various festivals. The question about how to arrange the seats according to the relationship between the host and guests, taking into account the importance of the guests, is always a difficult task.
However, Jesus made a very practical suggestion to the guest: to take the most humble seat. In that way the guest would avoid the embarrassment of being asked to move from a prominent seat to a mere lowly one. Also he would be able to receive the honour of moving from a humble seat to a higher position if that is what the host had planned.
Jesus also suggests that inviting those who are poor to attend such a banquet, is more blessed than if you simply invited the rich. This is because the poor, who are in need, will not be able to return the invitation in contrast to the rich. Such gracious humility and lavish hospitality to those in need is in fact the life style of Jesus in the world and the purpose of incarnation.
FOR REFLECTION
• So, what will be the expectation of your life? Are you aiming to climb the social ladder by your own effort?
• Or you are willing to humble yourself to serve the poor and receive honour from our Lord rather than human beings?
• In your daily life, do you just want to please the rich in order to get rewards from them? Are you willing to serve those who have nothing rather than those who have much already?
PRAYER
Lord of life, show me the way of life and let me see clearly the purposes you have for me. Lead me to live a meaningful life by humbling myself to serve the poor. Let me see myself not according to the world’s expectation and standard. Let me experience your promise that those who are willing to lose their life will receive abundant life. This I pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
DEVOTION
Jesus’ teaching is full of practical wisdom. This parable describing how to take a seat in a wedding banquet is most relevant to Asian culture. Asians hold banquets on many happy occasions, not only weddings, but also birthdays, job promotions and various festivals. The question about how to arrange the seats according to the relationship between the host and guests, taking into account the importance of the guests, is always a difficult task.
However, Jesus made a very practical suggestion to the guest: to take the most humble seat. In that way the guest would avoid the embarrassment of being asked to move from a prominent seat to a mere lowly one. Also he would be able to receive the honour of moving from a humble seat to a higher position if that is what the host had planned.
Jesus also suggests that inviting those who are poor to attend such a banquet, is more blessed than if you simply invited the rich. This is because the poor, who are in need, will not be able to return the invitation in contrast to the rich. Such gracious humility and lavish hospitality to those in need is in fact the life style of Jesus in the world and the purpose of incarnation.
FOR REFLECTION
• So, what will be the expectation of your life? Are you aiming to climb the social ladder by your own effort?
• Or you are willing to humble yourself to serve the poor and receive honour from our Lord rather than human beings?
• In your daily life, do you just want to please the rich in order to get rewards from them? Are you willing to serve those who have nothing rather than those who have much already?
PRAYER
Lord of life, show me the way of life and let me see clearly the purposes you have for me. Lead me to live a meaningful life by humbling myself to serve the poor. Let me see myself not according to the world’s expectation and standard. Let me experience your promise that those who are willing to lose their life will receive abundant life. This I pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Scripture
About this Plan
A Lent devotional material created by the pastors of International Churches of Hong Kong. Journey is intended to assist our route towards Easter from the Gospel of Luke, a devotional emphasizes the theme of ‘journey’. Both in Jesus’ ministry and His parables the notion of travelling is significant.
More
We would like to thank International Christian Churches in Hong Kong provided by The Vine for providing this plan. For more information, please visit: http://www.thevine.org.hk/
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