Readings: Philippians 1:18b-26 | Psalm 42 | Luke 14:1,7-11
To Live is Christ - Take the Lowest Place
"For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain." - Philippians 1:21
Paul says, whether by occasion or truth, Christ is preached, in this I rejoice. For I know this shall fall out to me unto salvation through your prayer and supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, according to my expectation and hope that in nothing I shall be confounded, but with all confidence as always so now also shall Christ be magnified in my body, whether by life or death. For to me to live is Christ and to die is gain. I am straitened between two - having desire to be dissolved and be with Christ, a thing by far better, but to abide still in flesh is needful for you. And confident, I know I shall remain for your furtherance and joy of faith.
Jesus, again in Pharisee's house, marks how guests choose first seats. He says, "When you are invited to wedding, sit not down in first place, lest one more honorable be invited and he who invited you say Give this man place, and you begin with shame to take lowest place. But when invited, go sit in lowest place, that when he who invited you comes he may say Friend, go up higher. Then you shall have glory. For everyone that exalts himself shall be humbled, and he that humbles himself shall be exalted."
Psalm says, "As the hart pants after fountains of water, so my soul pants after You, O God. My soul thirsts for the living God."
Humility is not thinking less of yourself, it is thirsting for God more than for place.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, meek and humble of heart, my soul thirsts for You. Teach me to take the lowest place and let Christ be magnified in me.
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1 comment:
Thank you for joining Paul's words in Philippians with the psalmist's thirst so gently. The picture of the hart panting after water gave fresh weight to taking the lowest place, not as self-contempt but as thirsting for God more than for position. I left the prayer at the end still echoing, asking the Lord to make my own heart meek and humble in the same way.
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