WEDNESDAY'S WORD - SEATED - Sadell Bradley- 3/24/2021

 

WEDNESDAY'S WORD SEATED 3/24/2021 "Be sincere; be brief; be seated. " - Franklin D. Roosevelt As a pastor, I couldn't help but chuckle at President Roosevelt's public speaking advice. It applies to folks we ask to sing songs in services or make remarks at funerals, lol! Be brief; be sincere; be seated, is good counsel for communication. To be SEATED means to sit down. Colloquially, you could be asked to, 'set yourself down' in the South if people have had enough of what you are doing or saying. Figuratively, SEATED means to position yourself or to be positioned by another. Have you ever been disgruntled at a restaurant because they seated your party by the bathroom? Where you are seated can be a matter of honor or dishonor, even in church. Jesus warned his disciples to watch out for the Scribes, "They love to have the chief seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at banquets." (Matt. 23:6) Jesus instructed His followers, "when you are invited to a banquet, take the lowest place so that when your host comes, he will say to you, 'Friend, move up to a better place.' Then you will be honored in the presence of all the other guests." (Luke 14:10) Are you attempting to be seated in a place to which you weren't called? Do you crave that place so much that you would try to displace someone more deserving? Be seated. WHERE ARE YOU GONNA SIT? As a child, I would go to the movies or an event with a friend and ask, "Where are you gonna sit?" I asked because I wanted to ensure we would be seated together. Then I would gleefully plop myself down next to them and enjoy. In Ephesians 2:3-7, Paul states that before God forgave us we were, "gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. 4But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. 6And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus." God wanted us to be seated and enjoy life with our Friend and Elder Brother, Jesus. So He made a place for us with Him! This photo reminds me: my seat's location and vantage point are Heavenly, and my disposition is to rest and trust in God. Earthly seats are so stressful. Where are you gonna sit? TONIGHT! 7:00 PM FB LIVE The Warehouse OTR YouTube @warehouseOTR