Then said he [Jesus] unto him [a man], "A certain man made a great supper, and bade many: And sent his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, 'Come; for all things are now ready.' And they all with one consent began to make excuse...." Luke 14:16-18a , KJV
To get the full import of these verses, you should read from verse 16 all the way to 24.
A man had invited his friends to an elaborate meal. When it was ready, he sent out his servant to let them know it was ready. Do you know what they did? One said, "Well, I just bought a piece of property, and I'm going to go admire it." Like the property wouldn't have been there tomorrow?
Another one said, "I just bought ten oxen, and I'm going to go try them out behind the plow." Who knows, maybe the oxen wouldn't work the next day.
The next one said, "I just got married."
Come on guys. Get a clue! You were invited to eat with The Master!
So what did the master of the feast do? He told the servant to go bring in the poor, the maimed, the halt, and the blind. The outcasts. The homeless. The ones no one likes. The ones you turn your eyes away from. I'm betting they didn't make excuses.
Has Jesus called you to His side? It might not have been to a dinner--maybe to serve one. Maybe to help a neighbor. Maybe to talk to someone about Him. Maybe just to go to church and worship with others. Did you make excuses?
Prayer: Lord, when we are tempted to make excuses, remind us Whose we are. Show us where you want us to go, what to do. We want to eat with You, serve with You, and to love Your people with You, Lord. Amen.
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