Only one VIP!

Luke 14:7-11

When He noticed how the guests picked the places of honour at the table, He told them this parable: “When someone invites you to a wedding feast, do not take the place of honour, for a person more distinguished than you may have been invited. If so, the host who invited both of you will come and say to you, ‘Give this person your seat.’ Then, humiliated, you will have to take the least important place. But when you are invited, take the lowest place, so that when your host comes, he will say to you, ‘Friend, move up to a better place.’ Then you will be honoured in the presence of all the other guests. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”

It's been fascinating hearing about Prince Phillip [who has sadly passed on] and his "refugee" background. He actually was quite an interesting character who made a name for himself by taking a backseat to the Queen. Having been stateless and in exile from his native country, he was only too happy to be adopted into Britain and take on a new nationality and identity. To fight for that country and pledge alliance to its sovereign.

We can learn a valuable lesson from him...

I love the way Jesus takes earthly values and turns them upside down, don't you?

There He was, in an important Pharisees' house, for a meal and He had observed how folk were clamouring for the best seats at the table - each one taking a place that they thought they deserved.

In God's Kingdom, no one deserves to be there.

We are among the blind, the crippled and the poor who weren't invited in the first place.

[See the parable of the Great Banquet Luke 14:16-24

Jesus replied: “A certain man was preparing a great banquet and invited many guests. At the time of the banquet he sent his servant to tell those who had been invited, ‘Come, for everything is now ready.’

“But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said, ‘I have just bought a field, and I must go and see it. Please excuse me.’

“Another said, ‘I have just bought five yoke of oxen, and I’m on my way to try them out. Please excuse me.’

“Still another said, ‘I just got married, so I can’t come.’

“The servant came back and reported this to his master. Then the owner of the house became angry and ordered his servant, ‘Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame.’

“‘Sir,’ the servant said, ‘what you ordered has been done, but there is still room.’

“Then the master told his servant, ‘Go out to the roads and country lanes and compel them to come in, so that my house will be full. I tell you, not one of those who were invited will get a taste of my banquet.’”]

We should just be so grateful that we get in at all, because we, as Gentiles, weren't originally on the guest list!

John 1: 11-13

He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.

So, gladly take the least place, the back seat, and, if Jesus deems it so, you'll be invited "up table" - but, if not, at least you arrived to the banquet!

What a privilege to be invited to the Lord's heavenly party.

Hope you're coming too - it's going to be great - even in the last place - I'll be so happy!

Thought

In God's Kingdom, there's room for only One VIP!