NOVEMBER 1
Focus: Making excuses
Hebrews 12:25 (NKJV) See that you do not refuse Him who is speaking. For if they did not escape when they refused Him who warned them on earth, much less will we escape if we reject Him who warns from heaven.
“…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 now ready.’
But they all with one accord began to make excuses. The first said to him, I have bought a piece of ground and 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 14:16-24, NKJV)
This is one of those passages of the Bible that can be taken two ways…or more.
Those who seek God with all their heart, soul, and mind look forward to the marriage supper for the Lamb of God and His bride, the church—and yet what believer has not at some time, made excuses? You have, and so have I.
Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak. (Matthew 26:41 NKJV)
In these days and in this hour, we need to be seeking the Lord and waiting on Him more than ever. God is looking for a people who are ‘set apart’…who will honor and obey Him above all others. Just as much as ‘honor and obedience’, God is looking for those who desire Him and prefer Him.
God doesn’t want to appear on our ‘to do list’ as someone who will be fitted in, if time allows. He deserves more. He demands more. We can’t think that He will prefer us, if we don’t prefer Him. It is such a serious matter. We make excuses of all kinds.
How easy it is for us in our own ways—to be carried off with our earthly plans?
Letting hours turn to days—figuring He’ll just understand.
Not now, I don’t have time—maybe later, but now I’m tired—I have so much to do.
How can you say that to Him? He wouldn’t say that to you.
Imagine how He’d feel if you were His only child—well, I think His heart would break
Knocking at the door of His own baby’s Heart—being put off and turned away
Not now, I don’t have time—maybe later but now I’m tired—I have so much to do.
How can you say that to Him? He wouldn’t say that to you.
You haven’t got a minute to spare for Him—twenty four hours He watches over you
All He wants is to be let in—to live His life with you—and you still say
Not now, I don’t have time—maybe later but now I’m tired—I have so much to do.
How can you say that to Him? He wouldn’t say that to you.
–Christina Cook Lee
Declaration: I will find new strength by honoring and preferring the Lord. I will make time for Him in my daily life hoping that when He returns, He will find me ‘watching’.
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