Listen to Devotion

When [Jesus] noticed how the guests picked the places of honor at the table, he told them this parable: “When someone invites you to a wedding feast, do not take the place of honor. . . 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 honored in the presence of all the other guests.”

You made it! You are at a venue to see your favorite performer live in concert! But when you get to your seat, far away from the stage, you discover your view is blocked. You are crushed. But then, before the show starts, personal representatives of the performer approach you and ask you to follow them. They lead you all the way to the front row! The performer ensured that front row seats were reserved for those with a blocked view. You didn’t pay for front row seats, but thanks to the performer’s awareness of your situation and over-the-top kindness in remedying your situation, you enjoy up close the best performance you’ve ever seen!

There is an old song that goes: “It’s hard to be humble when you’re perfect in every way.” But if that were true, we would be able to perfectly control the attitudes of our hearts—never having a selfish attitude, never losing our temper, never looking down on others, and always being one hundred percent willing to help others with their problems. Our own hearts have a blocked view of godly attitudes, thoughts, and living.

But Jesus, the Son of God, is fully aware of what’s blocking our hearts. In his over-the-top kindness, he paid the high price to remove us from all the sins that are blocking our hearts from God and ushers us right up to the front row in God’s presence. “Friend, move up to a better place.”

It’s hard to believe, isn’t it? You are not a nobody living up in the nosebleed seats. You are the Son of God’s honored guest, able to see up close God’s out-of-this-world blessings for you. Friend of Jesus, move up to the best place and enjoy Jesus’ blessings of grace, peace, honor, and joy!

Son of God, fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand. Amen.

Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS.

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. ™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.