Today's Reading:
Genesis 34,35,36; Luke 14
Scripture
“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 14:10-11)
Observation
Jesus speaks to those who were jockeying for the best spots at the table, who were more concerned about sitting in the right place than about being the right person. Can you imagine some of the pushing and shoving that must have taken place? What today’s reading speaks to me is In Hawaii, we have this thing called showing Aloha. Now the word Aloha has many meanings but one, for sure, is when we are out and about, the reason we show Aloha is because this is a character act that the world needs to catch.
Example: When you drive through the community of Waimanalo, the residents there will always allow another car to enter into traffic, or stop to allow another vehicle to make a left turn. In Waimanalo, the vehicles there drive the speed limit, or when available always allow another to pass first.
Showing Aloha is when shopping in a busy SuperMarket, you let another person go first in the checkout stand even though you were there before them. Showing Aloha is when you are at a drive-through and you leave money for the cashier to pay it forward. Showing Aloha is when you give away a parking stall even though it was yours first. Showing Aloha is being so grateful that you do things for this world, returning back to the way it was because we must have lost it along our way.
Application
In spite of it being a dog eat dog world, somebody has to be Jesus and show the Spirit of Aloha. It’s got to start somewhere so it might as well be me. I don’t expect anything in return, only knowing I love Jesus and I must be that bright shining light to people or someone who sees. When people ask why I do this, my answer is: I love Jesus and I feel we need a little bit of love (ALOHA). This is how I can express love and Aloha, so I’m passing it onto the next person (with nothing in return). Aloha is contagious and will rub off on others.
Prayer
Father forgive me for the times I wasn’t showing the love of Jesus to another person. My prayer is that I can always have that Aloha in my heart without any regrets or fear and pass it forward. In Jesus Name - Amen.
