So, Friday before I left for a women's retreat, I had posted the study for Luke 14. Lately God has been revealing to me about my pride, so I enjoyed reading it and reflecting on it. Well, "enjoyed" might not be the most appropriate word... who "enjoys" being faced with sin that's so hard to rid yourself of?
Anyway, I was faced with two situations at the retreat where I had a choice to apply what I learned or to do as I usually did, and that was to think of myself first. (insert frustrated face here).
Anyway, I was faced with two situations at the retreat where I had a choice to apply what I learned or to do as I usually did, and that was to think of myself first. (insert frustrated face here).
Now he told a parable to those who were invited, when he noticed how they chose the places of honor, saying to them, "When you are invited by someone to a wedding feast, do not sit down in a place of honor, lest someone more distinguished that you be invited by him, and he who invited you both will come and say to you, 'Give your place to this person,' and then you will begin with shame to take the lowest place. 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 with you." {Verses 7-10~ The Parable of the Wedding Feast}
So you are wondering, how did you get to put this into practice? I was not invited to a wedding feast, but I did go to a ladies retreat this past weekend. When we arrived at the conference center, we got to our room and started picking out our beds to sleep. There were two bunk beds, a queen bed and a pull out twin bed. Now being that I am pregnant, I assumed I should get the queen bed! I did not say this out loud, however, I remembered this passage from Luke from that morning and chose to claim a bunk bed. Now, maybe I could have done a bit better yet in applying this text, as I did not choose the top bunk. I'm sure all of you readers of mine would agree that being 6 months pregnant, (and not the cute little petite frame of a body I so wish I had at this time!) the top bunk was not quite the best place for me and my fat body to get up into. So, I chose the bottom bunk. I'm not gonna lie- I thought someone would offer me the queen bed- and considering I was obviously the most "distinguished" person there, maybe I did deserve it. My friend offered me the bed, but for once in my life, I chose not "the place of honor". Usually in my selfish being, I would just claim the bed since I'm pregnant, but you know what, it was better that I didn't and it brought a strange joy to my heart to take the not-so-comfy place of rest. This simple and maybe silly-to-you act of obedience to God's word really satisfied me. Oh and by the way the not-so-comfy place of rest turned into just a not-so-big place of rest. The mattress was super comfy and the pillow was better than mine at home!
Anyway, the second opportunity to obey the Scriptures, in again, a maybe silly-to-you sort of way, was as we were getting ready to leave the retreat center. We had put our bags in the trunk and I had the opportunity to choose my seat in the SUV. On the way I sat in the back, which actually wasn't bad considering I get car sick often. The Lord reminded me that this again was an opportunity not to take the seat of honor, this being the front seat. Now again, I could justify my neglect of God's reminder: Um, God do you remember I get car sick? You do realize I'm the size of all three of these ladies put together and the front seat is where I should be! It just makes sense! Nope, I didn't go there. I just opened the door to the back seat and buckled up (I think). Now in this situation nobody offered me the front seat, but you know what? I was glad, because again, I had this strange sense of joy knowing I "passed the test" of the parable. To you this might seem kind of odd, but to me these are big steps of sanctification in my life. Again this is on a small scale, but if I don't obey in the small ways, what makes me think I'm going to obey in the big stuff? I encourage you friends, to be mindful of the small ways you can obey the Word- even if it seems silly, insignificant or if it means giving up a nice cozy bed or what's best for you. You know what came to mind later on about the SUV seat choice? All three of those women may experience car sickness, but their prudence and godliness didn't speak of it. Maybe each of them were choosing the lowly spot to sit too. It was revealed to me (again) my pride and selfishness, because usually, I would make mention of my tendency to get car sick. Thinking about that ugliness in me, almost makes me couch sick (yes I am sitting on my couch).
My prayer is that His Word would become so alive in you that you see face to face ways- big and small- to be obedient to His Word and to be more like Jesus!
~Leanne~
Anyway, the second opportunity to obey the Scriptures, in again, a maybe silly-to-you sort of way, was as we were getting ready to leave the retreat center. We had put our bags in the trunk and I had the opportunity to choose my seat in the SUV. On the way I sat in the back, which actually wasn't bad considering I get car sick often. The Lord reminded me that this again was an opportunity not to take the seat of honor, this being the front seat. Now again, I could justify my neglect of God's reminder: Um, God do you remember I get car sick? You do realize I'm the size of all three of these ladies put together and the front seat is where I should be! It just makes sense! Nope, I didn't go there. I just opened the door to the back seat and buckled up (I think). Now in this situation nobody offered me the front seat, but you know what? I was glad, because again, I had this strange sense of joy knowing I "passed the test" of the parable. To you this might seem kind of odd, but to me these are big steps of sanctification in my life. Again this is on a small scale, but if I don't obey in the small ways, what makes me think I'm going to obey in the big stuff? I encourage you friends, to be mindful of the small ways you can obey the Word- even if it seems silly, insignificant or if it means giving up a nice cozy bed or what's best for you. You know what came to mind later on about the SUV seat choice? All three of those women may experience car sickness, but their prudence and godliness didn't speak of it. Maybe each of them were choosing the lowly spot to sit too. It was revealed to me (again) my pride and selfishness, because usually, I would make mention of my tendency to get car sick. Thinking about that ugliness in me, almost makes me couch sick (yes I am sitting on my couch).
My prayer is that His Word would become so alive in you that you see face to face ways- big and small- to be obedient to His Word and to be more like Jesus!
~Leanne~
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