“FRIEND, MOVE UP HIGHER!”

 

Luke 14:8-11                 (ESV)

[8] “When you are invited by someone to a wedding feast, do not sit down in a place of honor, lest someone more distinguished than you be invited by him, [9] 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. [10] 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 at table with you. [11] FOR EVERYONE WHO EXALTS HIMSELF WILL BE HUMBLED, AND HE WHO HUMBLES HIMSELF WILL BE EXALTED.””

The “parable” shown in the Scripture passage above has been entitled The Parable Of The Wedding Feast.  A “parable” is defined as “a concise story that conveys a moral, spiritual, or theological truth by means of everyday illustrations and relatable experiences”.  JESUS used “words” so exquisitely to achieve HIS desired outcome in the particular situation.  It is understandable that in the book of John HE referred to as THE WORD, because HE encapsulated ALL THE GOOD that WORDS can describe!!!

THE CREATOR OF THE UNIVERSES was speaking to THE CREATED and HIS MESSAGE wasn’t very difficult to understand.  My humanity generally doesn’t lend itself to anything that isn’t revealed to me in a relatively short period of time.  But THE KING OF KINGS and LORD OF LORDS was sharing that the people hearing HIS WORDS were being BLESSED to experience.  

JESUS told those who were “listeners” that whenever they were invited to a wedding feast, that they needed to consider themselves BLESSED to be invited!  When “your host” SEES where you are seated, he “may” say to you “FRIEND, MOVE UP HIGHER “!  But these words might leave you where you are …..FOR A SEASON!!!  

Our “HOST” for the HEAVENLY gathering we are scheduled to attend will be NONE OTHER than the ORATOR of this parable, THE WORD!!!  I will be BLESSED just to be at this gathering!  But I will HONORED to be told “FRIEND, MOVE UP HIGHER” by the KING OF KINGS and LORD OF LORDS…….. if HE so chooses!!!