Devotion: Making the Ordinary Extra-Ordinary

One Sabbath day Jesus went to eat dinner in the home of a leader of the Pharisees, and the people were watching him closely. . . . When Jesus noticed that all who had come to the dinner were trying to sit in the seats of honor near the head of the table, he gave them this advice. “When you are invited to a wedding feast, don’t sit in the seat of honor. What if someone who is more distinguished than you has also been invited?The host will come and say, ‘Give this person your seat.’ Then you will be embarrassed, and you will have to take whatever seat is left at the foot of the table! “Instead, take the lowest place at the foot of the table. Then when your host sees you, he will come and say, ‘Friend, we have a better place for you!’ Then you will be honored in front of all the other guests. For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” Then he turned to his host. “When you put on a luncheon or a banquet,” he said, “don’t invite your friends, brothers, relatives, and rich neighbors. For they will invite you back, and that will be your only reward. Instead, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind. Then at the resurrection of the righteous, God will reward you for inviting those who could not repay you.” Luke 14: 1, 7-14.

Making the ordinary, extra-ordinary is an important teaching strategy used by teachers today. Basically, this strategy is designed to help the learner think about something familiar in a new and different way. Weddings were an important event during Biblical times just as they are now. Everyone was familiar with the customs surrounding these special events. And like us, people in those times often found it difficult to be humble, but instead, let their pride dictate their actions. People often want to feel special and important. Jesus understood this natural human tendency but He came to make the ordinary, extra-ordinary. Even though being full of pride and showing your importance might be the way of the world, this was not God’s way. Jesus used parables so people could envision a new way of thinking. He stripped away and exposed the ordinary (pride) and challenged His listeners to think in a new way (humility). “Take the lowest place.”

Then, using another parable to teach a different principle, He told them an even more extra-ordinary idea. Rather than inviting the usual guests to a banquet, you should “invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind.” Talk about turning the world upside down! Again, He invited His listeners to think of the ordinary in new in different ways. How can you serve those with extra-ordinary needs instead of just thinking of yourself? With these two parables He taught the principles of humility and service to others.

Jesus was a great teacher! It’s up to us to be awesome learners and to put our learning into action. In what ways can you and I be more humble? How can we serve our church, our community and our world?

Dear Heavenly Father, You are a Wonderful Teacher! We hear your message. Help us be a good students of Your Word. Help us change our behaviors and take action. Help us be humble and have a servant heart. In the Holy and Precious Name of Jesus, Amen.

This devotion is written by Julie Johnson.

If you would like to serve as a member of the Sheridan Lutheran Writing Team and help to write devotions based on the text for the weekend, contact Patty Forsberg.

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