Daily Reading: Luke 14
Scripture Focus: Friend, move up higher. (Luke 14.10)
Devotional Thought: Lana and I attended a beautiful wedding and reception last weekend. When we arrived at the reception hall, we missed the seating chart. After we seated ourselves (near the cake!), we were informed that we were in someone else’s seat and needed to move. Not a big deal, but it made us feel a little sheepish.
Jesus told a story about a guest being seated in the wrong place. When that happens, how much better to be told to "Move up higher." God is telling us to move up higher:
· We can move up closer in friendship with Jesus. Jesus wants us to ‘do life’ at his side. He desires to have a close relationship with us. We are his friends! I saw on the news yesterday, that a company in China is offering a facial recognition app that you can use on social media to identify someone. Snap a picture, upload it and voila – this is who they are. Aren’t you glad that we don’t need that with Jesus? We’re close enough to hear him speak, to follow his lead, to receive his help. Open up your heart every day to his companionship!
· One way to do that is respond to his invitation to move up higher in prayer. I would venture a guess that most of us would say we could pray more – more time, more focus, more urgency. The greatest way to move up higher in prayer, though, might just be to say less and listen more.
There are other ways to move up higher: in service and in love, in holiness and Christ-likeness, in faith and obedience.
God is saying to you today, “Friend, move up higher!”
Prayer: Lord, forgive me when I am content to live on a low level. Help me to hear your invitation to move up higher. By your grace, I will do just that! Amen.
Psalm of the Day: Psalm 139.17-24
17 How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them! 18 If I would count them, they are more than the sand. I awake, and I am still with you.
19 Oh that you would slay the wicked, O God! O men of blood, depart from me! 20 They speak against you with malicious intent; your enemies take your name in vain. 21 Do I not hate those who hate you, O Lord? And do I not loathe those who rise up against you? 22 I hate them with complete hatred; I count them my enemies.
23 Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! 24 And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!
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