Can you take the lowest room?

What is meant by "lowest room?"

The lowest place in a group, the place where others see you and treat you as not only lower than themselves, but in the lowest rank among them.

Can we willingly allow ourselves to be in this place of being the lowest servant?

Someone may think, "Why on earth would we accept a position like this?"

Because it's a principle of the kingdom of God.

Jesus said, "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

Paul wrote that God had made the apostles last. 1 Corinthians 4:9

They had become the scum of the earth, the garbage of the world. 1 Corinthians 4:13

Do we want this, too? Do we want to be the lowest servants in the lowest places?

What might we get? Greatness in the kingdom of God?

Jesus called them [His disciples] together and said, "You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles [non-Jews] lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man [Jesus] did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many." Mark 10:42-45

In the culture of Jesus' day, the lowest servant washed the feet of guests when they visited a home.

So He [Jesus] got up from the meal, took off His outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around His waist. After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash His disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around Him. John 13:4-5

Some churches have footwashing services during Easter week but that hardly captures the lowest servant role because everyone is on the same level, washing each other's feet.

More modern equivalents could be to wash someone's vehicle for them, clean their house, cut their grass, and such like for free, knowing that every good thing that someone does, the same will they receive from the Lord. Ephesians 6:7

Do we need some more inspiration to be last of all and servant, the lowest servant, of all?

Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve [His first disciples] and said, "Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all." Mark 9:35

Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Philippians 2:3

My friends, you were chosen to be free. So don't use your freedom as an excuse to do anything you want. Use it as an opportunity to serve each other with love. Galatians 5:13

When we volunteer in our hearts and with our actions to be the lowest, we can place faith in God the Father that His word is true.

For exaltation comes neither from the east

Nor from the west nor from the south.

But God is the Judge:

He puts down one,

And exalts another. Psalm 75:6-7

And what else can happen if we humble ourselves in the sight of the Lord? James 4:10

Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that He may lift you up in due time. 1 Peter 5:6

Servants of the Lord who serve well get lifted up so that they can serve more.

His lord said to him, "Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord." Matthew 25:21

Rulers in the kingdom of God are to be servants as Jesus was.

So when He [Jesus] had washed their feet, taken His garments, and sat down again, He said to them [His disciples], "Do you know what I have done to you? You call Me Teacher and Lord, and you say well, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you. Most assuredly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master; nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him. If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them." John 13:12-17

Your thoughts?

R. Jason