We, though many, are one Body in Christ and individually parts of one another. Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given us, let us exercise them… (Romans 12:5-6)
Lord, my heart is not proud; nor are my eyes haughty. I do not busy myself with great matters, with things too sublime for me Rather, I have stilled my soul, like a weaned child to its mother, weaned is my soul. (Psalm 131:1-2)
"A man gave a great dinner to which he invited many. When the time for the dinner came, he dispatched his servant to say to those invited, 'Come, everything is now ready.' But one by one, they all began to excuse themselves. The first said to him, 'I have purchased a field and must go to examine it; I ask you, consider me excused.' And another said, 'I have purchased five yoke of oxen and am on my way to evaluate them; I ask you, consider me excused.' And another said, 'I have just married a woman, and therefore I cannot come.' The servant went and reported this to his master. Then the master of the house in a rage commanded his servant, 'Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and bring in here the poor and the crippled, the blind and the lame.' The servant reported, 'Sir, your orders have been carried out and still there is room.' The master then ordered the servant, 'Go out to the highways and hedgerows and make people come in that my home may be filled. For, I tell you, none of those men who were invited will taste my dinner.'" (Luke 14:16-24)
Piety
No excuses, Lord. I failed to live as You desired today. I beg for Your mercy… and for Your grace, that I might do better tomorrow.
Study
Consider me excused. I just had too many other commitments to be present to your pain and suffering.
Consider me excused. I just needed someone who could help me with the project, and when it would have taken too much effort to humble myself and train you, I moved on.
Consider me excused. It was a long day, and the next planned to be even more intense, so I skipped my prayer time.
Consider me excused. You’re always right, right, right, and I’m always wrong, wrong, wrong, and so I didn’t bother to say that in this particular case, you’re taking a lot of people down a very dangerous road.
Consider me excused. You intentionally wounded me, days or weeks or months or years ago, and when you begged pardon and asked for mercy just the other day, I blocked you, ignored you, or walked away.
We are all invited to the great dinner. But too often, the other stuff in our lives—tangible or intangible comes before living for Christ. And so we keep doing what we want to do… and ask for a rain check.
Consider me convicted—and in that conviction, beginning anew, so that that invitation might never be withdrawn.
Action
Say yes to the Lord today—not maybe later, I don’t think so, or I’ll get back to you at another time.
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