Excuses and Distractions: Luke 14:16-24
“16) But He said to him, “A man was giving a big dinner, and he invited many; 17) and at the dinner hour he sent his slave to say to those who had been invited, ‘Come; for everything is ready now.’ 18) But they all alike began to make excuses. The first one said to him, ‘I have bought a piece of land and I need to go out and look at it; please consider me excused.’ 19) Another one said, ‘I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I am going to try them out; please consider me excused.’ 20) Another one said, ‘I have married a wife, and for that reason I cannot come.’ 21) And the slave came back and reported this to his master. Then the head of the household became angry and said to his slave, ‘Go out at once into the streets and lanes of the city and bring in here the poor and crippled and blind and lame.’ 22) And the slave said, ‘Master, what you commanded has been done, and still there is room.’ 23) And the master said to the slave, ‘Go out into the highways and along the hedges, and compel them to come in, so that my house may be filled. 24) For I tell you, none of those men who were invited shall taste of my dinner.’ ”” Luke 14:16-24
This is a very convicting story. A man had prepared a big feast for his many friends, but when it was ready, they each began to make excuses.
One had bought some land, another five yoke of oxen, and another had recently married. Upon examination, not a single excuse was urgent. They each could have easily attended the banquet… if it was truly a priority for them.
The truth is that they each had distractions they viewed as more important than attending the dinner banquet. He wasn’t important to them. They had no time for him. He was at the bottom of their list.
Though obviously disappointed, the dinner host quickly found others to take their places. He sent his slave to invite the poor, the crippled, the lame and the blind. He found others who had no distractions. Every spot was filled.
This is reminiscent of Revelation 3:20; “Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me.” Jesus wants to spent quality time with us, but we often don’t have time for Him. We make excuses. We displace Him with other things.
According to the parable in Luke 14, He will find others who will welcome Him in and fellowship with Him. He does not force Himself on us.
So what excuses are you making for ignoring God? What distractions have you filled your life with that are more important than Jesus? Do you make quality time for Him?
Daily Bible Commentary By Terry Baxter: Cofounder if GoServ Global
Sent from my iPhone
“16) But He said to him, “A man was giving a big dinner, and he invited many; 17) and at the dinner hour he sent his slave to say to those who had been invited, ‘Come; for everything is ready now.’ 18) But they all alike began to make excuses. The first one said to him, ‘I have bought a piece of land and I need to go out and look at it; please consider me excused.’ 19) Another one said, ‘I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I am going to try them out; please consider me excused.’ 20) Another one said, ‘I have married a wife, and for that reason I cannot come.’ 21) And the slave came back and reported this to his master. Then the head of the household became angry and said to his slave, ‘Go out at once into the streets and lanes of the city and bring in here the poor and crippled and blind and lame.’ 22) And the slave said, ‘Master, what you commanded has been done, and still there is room.’ 23) And the master said to the slave, ‘Go out into the highways and along the hedges, and compel them to come in, so that my house may be filled. 24) For I tell you, none of those men who were invited shall taste of my dinner.’ ”” Luke 14:16-24
This is a very convicting story. A man had prepared a big feast for his many friends, but when it was ready, they each began to make excuses.
One had bought some land, another five yoke of oxen, and another had recently married. Upon examination, not a single excuse was urgent. They each could have easily attended the banquet… if it was truly a priority for them.
The truth is that they each had distractions they viewed as more important than attending the dinner banquet. He wasn’t important to them. They had no time for him. He was at the bottom of their list.
Though obviously disappointed, the dinner host quickly found others to take their places. He sent his slave to invite the poor, the crippled, the lame and the blind. He found others who had no distractions. Every spot was filled.
This is reminiscent of Revelation 3:20; “Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me.” Jesus wants to spent quality time with us, but we often don’t have time for Him. We make excuses. We displace Him with other things.
According to the parable in Luke 14, He will find others who will welcome Him in and fellowship with Him. He does not force Himself on us.
So what excuses are you making for ignoring God? What distractions have you filled your life with that are more important than Jesus? Do you make quality time for Him?
Daily Bible Commentary By Terry Baxter: Cofounder if GoServ Global
Sent from my iPhone
