MORE THAN MORALISM!

WORD FROM THE CENTER: MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2025

Welcome to “Word from The Center” MONDAY, a devotional word from the Center of our faith, Jesus Christ, with reflections on His Word. Today’s reading is Luke 14:7-11 which says, 

7 Now [Jesus] told a parable to those who were invited, when he noticed how they chose the places of honor, saying to them, 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.”

MORE THAN MORALISM!

When we read lessons like this one, we are tempted to believe that Jesus is just telling us a moral tale. You know, be a “good person,” or at least be “the best that you can be.” For example, sit at the least important place at the table or open your home to the most undeserving. I’d like to insist that such an interpretation completely misses the point Jesus is trying to make. And if you miss His main point, you also miss the significance of sitting in the least important seat or the joy of opening up your home to those who can never repay you. Jesus responds to the people who “chose the places of honor” in order to make us think more deeply about God’s actions in our lives. That’s why it’s important to hear the main point of our lesson.

What matters the most in Jesus’ parable is what the head of the wedding feast says to the invitees. Jesus gives us this parable while dining at the house of a prominent religious leader of the community. For so many, social status mattered then, just like it does today. But Jesus turns that viewpoint completely upside down with this story. He talks about a wedding feast, being invited, and how you should receive the invitation. The point? His “kingdom celebration” is the one that you are ultimately invited to attend! It's the never-ending party that really matters. And His invitation is a gracious, undeserved gift that has nothing to do with your status, your effort, or your position. So, come with a humility that is open to whatever place the head of the feast has for you. Why? Because this world’s idea of “first and last” doesn’t matter; what matters is what the head of the eternal wedding feast says about you. And know this: you won’t be disappointed with His invitation and with His joyful celebration of life. Furthermore, His guidance and direction for how to live life already now is the most freeing way to live for God and for neighbor. His perspective on your life is what really matters for you. Without that, you are on your own.

Sadly, today, many would rather dispense with the invitation altogether. We’re seeing even some Christians choose the “go my own way” view of life. That attitude is unconcerned about what God says about me, or what God has created and redeemed me to be. That attitude, whether religious or secular, finally rests in a spiritual arrogance that says, “What matters most is what I think is important for my life.” There are those who believe the Good News of the Bible is that “Jesus loves you and me just as we are.” Well, no. That’s an “I’ll sit at the banquet where I want to or I won’t come at all” attitude. Such a sinful, rebellious attitude is countered by Jesus here and elsewhere in the Bible. In fact, to the “I’ll go it alone” folks, Jesus reminds us of God’s standard for life, saying, “Be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect” (Matthew 5:48). Wow, what to do? It would seem that Christ’s perspective on my life is that I can’t do or be what He created and redeemed me to be ON MY OWN! And you’d be right. But, please, now more than ever, let’s not merely hear Christ’s description of our need and predicament apart from Him, let’s also receive the “Master of the Banquet’s” invitation on His gracious terms alone.

This is way more than moralism. The good news is this: No matter what the world thinks about Jesus’ perspective, faith in Him means that sinners like us do not have to “go it alone.”

What about, “Be perfect?” As a sinful human being I readily admit that I cannot, but Christ lived, died, and rose again to cover me with His perfection as a gift. So I’ll point you to Jesus, never to myself. As Paul says in 1 Corinthians 1:30-31,

It is because of Him (God the Father) that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. Therefore, as it is written: “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.”

Then what about good works and striving for holy living? Again, this isn’t mere moralism. Instead, I strive for virtue, morality, dignity, love, righteousness, NOT FOR ME AND MY RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD (Christ is my perfection), but for my family, my neighbor, and even my enemies who can benefit from my very best each day? And how about my enduring failures and brokenness? I hate them and yearn for the day when all that will be gone for good (see Romans 7:14-25). But, now, because of Christ, I can put those to use in serving and loving others with all that entails, and so can you! This isn’t moralism; it’s a dynamic Christian life, alive by God’s grace in Christ ALONE and then active in works, obedient to God because there are so many neighbors in my life that I get to love as Christ loves me. Let the “Master of the Banquet” have His say in your life. The result? An abundant life now and forever by faith toward Him and fervent love in Him toward others. No moralism, religious or secular, allowed!

PRAYER: Dear Lord Jesus, give me Your perspective on my life. Thanks for Your mercy and love which are new every morning to me and to all who believe. They remind me of who I am because of Your gracious invitation. Then teach me to value Your wisdom and guidance in whatever You have called me to do. AMEN

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