DCLM DAILY MANNA 19 FEBRUARY 2021 – THE WAY UP
Topic: The Way Up (DCLM Daily Manna 19 February 2021)
Text: Luke 14:1-11 (KJV)
1 And it came to pass, as he went into the house of one of the chief Pharisees to eat bread on the sabbath day, that they watched him.
2 And, behold, there was a certain man before him which had the dropsy.
3 And Jesus answering spake unto the lawyers and Pharisees, saying, Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath day?
4 And they held their peace. And he took him, and healed him, and let him go;
5 And answered them, saying, Which of you shall have an ass or an ox fallen into a pit, and will not straightway pull him out on the sabbath day?
6 And they could not answer him again to these things.
7 And he put forth a parable to those which were bidden, when he marked how they chose out the chief rooms; saying unto them,
8 When thou art bidden of any man to a wedding, sit not down in the highest room; lest a more honourable man than thou be bidden of him;
9 And he that bade thee and him come and say to thee, Give this man place; and thou begin with shame to take the lowest room.
10 But when thou art bidden, go and sit down in the lowest room; that when he that bade thee cometh, he may say unto thee, Friend, go up higher: then shalt thou have worship in the presence of them that sit at meat with thee.
11 For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.
Key Verse: “But when thou art bidden, go and sit down in the lowest room; that when he that bade thee cometh, he may say unto thee, Friend, go up higher…” (Luke 14:10).
MESSAGE:
The disciples of Jesus Christ had asked Him a very important question: “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” (Matthew 18:1).
Now, suppose it was Jesus that had asked those disciples the question, what would their answers have been? Maybe, “he that walked on water with You” or perhaps “he that cast out the highest number of demons”. Or maybe still “he that can pray and fast more than others”. But Jesus said the greatest in the kingdom of heaven is someone who has been “converted and become as little children”.
As Jesus Christ went into the house of the chief Pharisee “to eat bread on the Sabbath day”, the Scribes and Pharisees watched Him to see whether He would heal the man that had the dropsy. After asking them whether it was good or not to heal on a Sabbath day, He went ahead to heal the man. He then went on the educate the other guests about the necessity of choosing a lowly place when invited to an occasion.
The subject of humility is not a very popular one among many modern-day preachers today. Yet, it is the virtue that unlocks God’s favour and blessings upon an individual. Christ the Master, was among His disciples as “he that serveth” (Luke 22:27). He washed the disciples’ feet to demonstrate the virtue of humility (John 13:1-15). He “made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant” to bring salvation to humanity.
Humility promotes unity and true fellowship in the church. Ardent followers of Christ must, therefore, learn of Him who is “meek and lowly in heart”, since no servant can be greater than his master. Moreover, to the humble, God says “…I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit…” (Isaiah 57:15). Are you humble?
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: The humble shall rejoice in God’s presence for ever.
DCLM Daily Manna was written by Pastor William Folorunso Kumuyi; is the founder and General Superintendent of the Deeper Life Bible Church situated at KM 42 on the busy Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Nigeria
1. Admit that you are a sinner. "For all [humans] have sinned, and comes short of the glory of God....[and] the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Romans 3:23)
2. Repent now. "Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out ...[for] if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness " (Acts 3:19, 1 John 1:9)
3. Believe that God loves you and Jesus died for you. "God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet Sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8)
4. Invite Jesus into your life through prayer of faith. Jesus says, "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me" (Revelation 3:20)
