SILLY EXCUSES
OR
COME ONE – COME ALL
SUNDAY DEC. 12, 2021
Scripture To Consider:
“Then Jesus also said to him who invited Him, ‘When you give a dinner or a supper, do not ask your friends, your brothers, your relatives, nor rich neighbors, lest they also invite you back, and you be repaid. But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind. And you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you; for you shall be repaid at the resurrection of the just.’”
“Now when one of those who sat at the table with Him heard these things, he said to Jesus, ‘Blessed is he who shall eat bread in the kingdom of God!’ Then Jesus said to him, ‘A certain man gave a great supper and invited many, and sent his servant at supper time to say to those who were invited, “Come, for all things are made ready.” But they all with one accord began to make excuses. The first said to him, “I have bought a piece of ground, and I must go and see it. I ask you to have me excused.” And another said, “I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I am going to test them, I ask you to have me excused.” Still another said, “I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.”’”
“So that servant came and reported these things to his master. Then the master of the house, being angry, said to his servant, ‘Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in here the poor and the maimed and the lame and the blind.’ And the servant said, ‘Master, it is done as you commanded, and still there is room.’ Then the master said to the servant, ‘Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled. For I say to you that none of those men who were invited shall taste my supper.’” Luke 14.12-24
Something To Consider:
Jesus showed constant concern for the less fortunate, unlike the high-minded religious leaders of His day. By our showing kindness and generosity toward those who have no means of repaying us, Jesus declared that we are laying up treasure in heaven to be repaid to us in eternity. By our extending a helping hand, we are demonstrating His love here on earth.
Jesus’ message of redemption is to all in every generation! According to Jesus in John 3.19; “And this is the condemnation, that light [Jesus, the Word of God] has come into the world, and men [women and young people] loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were [in the days of Jesus and continue to be] evil.”
Jesus continued in John 3.20 by stating for the record, “For everyone [in every generation] practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, least his [or her] deeds [actions] should be exposed.” In other words, we cannot be practicing evil and living in the light of Jesus Christ, even if our words profess that we are in the light. There is no biblically approved do as I say not as I do concept in true Christianity. Those who attempt to do so are practicing evil according to Jesus.
Something Else To Consider:
If Jesus in verse 16 of our Scripture to consider is making reference to the Marriage Supper of the Lamb, spoken of in Revelation chapter 19, then the silly excuses given for not attending are of little value in the light of all eternity. The same is true of anyone who puts anything or anyone ahead of their seeking first the kingdom of God and His righteousness.
In these days in which we live, the majority of people are not coming to the light of Jesus and His Word. The Word of God brings conviction and the majority of people desire to not be convicted of their sin. Most have refused to come to the light of the truth of God’s Word or to Christ’s teaching. There is a great divide today between the pleasure and profit seekers attending the Americanized corporate-style established church, and the few faithful truly seeking God!
And yet, on the other hand, according to Jesus in John 3.21; “But he [or she] who does the truth [who obeys the Word of God] comes to the light [comes to Jesus who is the light], that his [or her] deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God.” Therefore, which will it be, more silly excuses, or come one come all to the truth of the light of the Word of God?
Something More To Consider:
The first silly excuse of having bought a field reveals a person’s placing passion for business ahead of God. The second silly excuse of having purchased five yoke of oxen show’s a person’s priority leaning more heavily towards possessions than the presence of God in their lives. And finally, the excuse of being newly married places one’s spouse in a higher relational position than God.
God extended His invitation into the kingdom of God beyond the Jewish nation by announcing, “Come one, come all!” What will be our response? What will be the response of those we are responsible for? When this life has come to its conclusion, there will not be another opportunity to respond to Christ’s call to come!
Jesus, in John 12.48 affirmed, “He who rejects Me [with the use of a silly excuse], and does not receive My words, has that which judges him [or her] the word that I [Jesus] have spoken will judge him [or her] in the last day.” Whether we want to admit it or not, that last day is fast approaching us all. Whether that is the last day of this age, or the last day of our lives, that last day may be sooner than we anticipate.
A Few Final Words:
Are we observing all things Jesus taught? Or are we making silly excuses expounded by religious hypocritical leaders who themselves are not observing what Jesus taught? Can we tell the difference between the truth of God’s Word and the cunningly crafted fables created by the many worldly wolves in sheep’s clothing?
If we are not studying the Word of God for ourselves, then most likely we are being deceived by every wind of demonic doctrines that are running their course through the so-called church of this 21st century. Be not deceived!
Many silly excuses have kept many from entering into the kingdom of God in every generation. And yet, others have been compelled to come, thereby filling the eternal house of the Lord and now stand to reap all of the rewards of eternal life. Will we be among the blessed who have laid up much godly treasure up in heaven? Are we reaping and shall we reap for all eternity, what evil we have sown in this earthly life? The choice as always, is ours to make now!
For according to Jesus, “Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that My house may be filled.”
Prayer:
Our Father in heaven, restrain us from presenting silly excuses that keep us from participating in the business of enlarging the kingdom of God. Keep us following Jesus in these evil days in which we live. In Him Always, Amen!
According to Jesus 