The Gospel According To Luke | Luke 14:15-24 | Pastor Rob Haslam

In His story, Jesus is rebuking those who are making excuses. Instead of simply admitting they don’t want to come, they justify their lack of response. Most excuses are phony. The excuses Jesus describes here are no exception.   All those invited gave excuses for not attending the banquet celebration. All the excuses were supposedly valid in that they were occupied with legitimate concerns, but unfortunately, they gave those concerns priority over God and His kingdom.  There is always an excuse we can make for not being about the things of God. Those who hear the good news must accept it and enter the reception hall, if not they have rejected the invitation.   Excuses are an attempt to justify our self and remain innocent before God. God’s gift to us in Jesus Christ on the Cross is not innocence, but a removing of the responsibility for our sin and guilt from us. When I accept responsibly for my sin and call on the name of Jesus, there is forgiveness and the ability to move forward.   To live without excuses is to accept our fallibility. I can confess my failure because I have the security of being loved and forgiven by God Himself.  Will you do just that today?   Will you stop making excuses?   Will you stop trying to justify yourself for not following Jesus?   Will you accept His invitation and participate in His calling?