Being Humbled

Luke 14:11 (NIV) 

    For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.

A famous football coach was on vacation with his family in Maine. When they walked into a movie theater and sat down, the handful of people there applauded. He thought to himself, "I can't believe it. People recognize me all the way up here." Then a man came over to him and said, "Thanks for coming. They won't start the movie for less than ten people."

Ouch! That'll deflate his ego in a hurry. That's the trouble with thinking you're somebody important -- not everyone is as convinced of that as you are! I heard about one man who was hesitant to go on vacation. When someone at work told him, "Don't worry. We can get by without you here for a while.", his response was, "I know, I know. I just don't want anybody else to find that out!"

Humility. One of the most difficult-to-find traits in our society. And one of the most important traits in the eyes of God. How often we try to raise our esteem in the eyes of men when we ought to be showing our willingness to lower ourselves.

"When you are invited by anyone to a wedding feast, do not sit down in the best place, lest one more honorable than you be invited by him; and he who invited you and him come and say to you, 'Give place to this man,' and then you begin with shame to take the lowest place. But when you are invited, go and sit down in the lowest place, so that when he who invited you comes he may say to you, 'Friend, go up higher.' Then you will have glory in the presence of those who sit at the table with you. For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted." (Luke 14:8-11)

Look for an opportunity today to take a "lower seat."

Dear Lord, thank You for the gifts You have given to us. Help us have a spirit of humility knowing that they are from You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Heaven is The Home Plate.

2 Corinthians 5:8 (New International Version)

We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord.

There is a baseball Hall of Fame where Heaven is the home plate. When you are born you are automatically placed on a "team" and as soon as you can stand on your own, you get the chance to bat. Life throws you a pitch and you are given the option to swing at it with your own free will knowing that sometimes you will strike out and sometimes you will make it to first base. Not batting at life's pitches will only cause you to strike out anyway.

Everyone is given three chances at life's pitches once you get up to bat. If you take a swing and make it to first base, then you wait for the next guy to move you along because it's all a team effort. If you are lucky up at bat, you can advance to second base. There are those who try to "steal" a base occasionally, but stealing too many bases is risky business and life is bound to catch up with you eventually. It's a 50/50 chance either way. If someone on your team hits a really good swing, you can try sliding into third. Sometimes you skin your knees sliding into third base. You just have to stand, brush yourself off and get on your feet again. It's all part of the game of life.

The thrill of making it almost home is overwhelming and everyone in the stands is cheering for you to make it there. Home plate is just a "run" away and everyone on the team wants to get home. Only a few ever make it to home plate by hitting a home run and not everyone on the team makes it home at all. Not everyone ever makes it to third base either - some never even get to first. There are no guarantees in the baseball game of life.

Even those who strike out are given the chance to make it "home" one day if they just trust the coach. Jesus is the coach and he lets everyone play the game, not just the ones who make the hits or hit the home runs. Everyone gets a shot up at bat and in His eyes, no one has to sit on the sidelines. But, the choice is yours to make it to home. Accept the coach as your savior today and become a part of the baseball Hall of Fame in Heaven. It's a winning team and the game lasts for an eternity!

Dear Lord we thank You for letting us be on Your team. We pray that we would let You lead us in all things. Help us each bring others to join the team. In Jesus’ name, Amen.