12/23/2019
When we awaken each morning and we enter consciously into the presence of God do we do so humbly, or thinking that we deserve to be there with Him? When we come to his table in our morning prayer where do we take a seat; do we sit immediately at the right hand of His chair, or in a lesser seat? Our view of our faith is not nearly as important as His perception of it, so where we sit relative to Him is vitally important.
“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.”
Luke 14:10 ESV
Not only do we hear in The Gospel of Luke that we should seat ourselves humbly at God’s table, but in The Gospel of Matthew we learn that not even Jesus took His own seat at the right hand of the Father without first being invited to sit there. Listen as Jesus is being questioned, and He speaks of David telling this about Christ...
“"'The Lord said to my Lord, "Sit at my right hand, until I put your enemies under your feet"'?”
Matthew 22:44 ESV
God told Jesus Christ where to sit; Jesus didn’t presume to take that seat himself. In this way, Jesus was honored by His Father, and all came to know what the Father thought of Him... not how He perceived Himself to be. So how do we initially seat ourselves at the table of God... or do we stand waiting for Him to come and assign us a seat?
We also see how people are invited to the table as Jesus speaks to His disciples about the servants being ready for their master’s arrival home. He tells of those who waited into the night for the master of the house to come home from a wedding feast; they remained awake. He also tells how they receive a blessing... the master will have them recline at his table. The servants didn’t seat themselves, but were called to dine by their Lord... listen...
“Blessed are those servants whom the master finds awake when he comes. Truly, I say to you, he will dress himself for service and have them recline at table, and he will come and serve them.”
Luke 12:37 ESV
I have attended many dinners and feasts over the years, and it is interesting to me to watch guests rush into a banquet hall at a brisk walk, or even a run, when the doors are opened. They do this in order to claim a seat of their own choosing. They want to sit at places of prominence, and to have certain friends surrounding them. When other guests enter they are told “This seat is taken!” or, “That seat is saved!” Have you witnessed this too? Have you also watched as the host or hostess was later distressed because an honored guest wasn’t able to be seated appropriately? When this happens, those who rushed in to grab seats of honor or privilege have instead dishonored themselves... as we have already read in scripture, we should seat ourselves humbly.
If you are a true friend of the host you will seat yourself with the lesser guests and make them feel welcome. One of the first questions that people ask those at their table during such functions is “How do you know the host, or honoree?” So, when this question is asked of you, and you relate your closeness to them, you have just extended the reach of the host’s kindness to your table, and those who might be lesser guests now feel honored to be there... you are assisting your friend, the host, in making all of his guests welcome, and comfortable. Grabbing a seat out of selfishness is not an honor, and serves no one but ourselves. Humbly is how we should come to the table of God... not out of selfishness and arrogance, but in humble servitude and with a love for our Heavenly Father.
When we rise in the morning we should pray with humility. When we enter into a room full of people, no matter their stature, our arrogant attempt at faith should not be what they see; they should see the image of Christ, and hear the kindness of His voice in ours. This is how we should establish ourselves wherever we go, and especially as we approach the table of God.
“For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich.”
2 Corinthians 8:9 ESV
Prayer:
Father, thank you for extending an invitation for us to dine at your table, and we thank you for your Son Jesus Christ because our names do not come to us individually, but are listed as additions upon His invitation. Help us understand Father that we are to come humbly to your table, and take lesser seats there. Teach us that it matters not what we think of our own righteousness, or even what others perceive it to be; it only matters how you see us. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you our God who invites us to come, and honors us by your grace through Jesus. We praise you Lord for your mercy, and goodness. We humbly worship you in our secret places, and lift you up before all those around us. All glory is yours Holy Father because your love abounds, and through this glows all your virtue. Great are you in goodness, mercy, and every virtue to which we aspire. You are our love and Lord forevermore.
“He brought me to the banqueting house, and his banner over me was love.”
The Song of Solomon 2:4 ESV
Rich Forbes