And Jesus put forth a parable to those which were bidden, when He marked how they chose out the chief rooms; saying unto them. When thou art bidden of any man to a wedding, sit not down in the highest room; lest a more honourable man than thou be bidden of him; And he that bade thee and him come and say to thee, Give this man place; and thou begin with shame to take the lowest room. But when thou art bidden, go and sit down in the lowest room; that when he that bade thee cometh, he may say unto thee, Friend, go up higher: then shalt thou have worship in the presence of them that sit at meat with thee. For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted. *Luke 14:7-11*
1. Humble yourself at Jesus' feet, take the lowest place.
But Jesus called them unto Him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them. But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant: Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give His life a Ransom for many. *Matthew 20:25-28*
2. Become a servant of Christ.
But Jesus called them to him, and saith unto them, Ye know that they which are accounted to rule over the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and their great ones exercise authority upon them. But so shall it not be among you: but whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister: And whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all. For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give His life a Ransom for many. *Mark 10:42-45*
3. Minister to those around you.
And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted. *Luke 18:13-14*
4. Seek God's mercy daily.
And there was also a strife among them, which of them should be accounted the Greatest. And Jesus said unto them, The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and they that exercise authority upon them are called benefactors. But ye shall not be so: but he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that doth serve. For whether is greater, he that sitteth at meat, or he that serveth? is not he that sitteth at meat? but I am among you as he that serveth. *Luke 22:25-27*
5. Walk humbly with Thy God, follow Jesus, yield to the Holy Spirit, and become a servant of others just like Jesus was here on earth.
For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile: Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it. I said, I will take heed to my ways, that I sin not with my tongue: I will keep my mouth with a bridle, while the wicked is before me. *I Peter 3:10-11* *Psalm 39:1*
6. Loving life starts to happen when we repent and stop speaking evil and guile, and when we begin to eschew (hate and avoid) evil, and do good. Always do good works for the glory of God, but never trust to them to help save you. Be not overcome with evil, but overcome evil with good. That's what Jesus did at Calvary, the Good Lamb of God overcame the evil of sin when He loved us and gave Himself for us. Sin to me is misery and a pest, a plague; sin is a thought at which I shudder.
