Topic: No Excuses Please [Sunday September 3, 2017]
Text: Luke 14:12-24
Key Verse: “And they all with one consent began to make excuse. The first said unto him, I have bought a piece of ground, and I must needs go and see it: I pray thee have me excused” (Luke 14:18).
A commentator on radio news series about honesty in America said that people use three types of excuses when guilty of wrongdoing. The first is outright denial – a rejection of any involvement. The second is the “it’s not my fault” excuse. The person looks around for someone he can blame (Often it is a loved one – a husband or wife or parent. Sometimes it’s the boss).
A third form of excuse is blaming ‘unavoidable’ circumstances for personal shortcoming. Either he’s been struggling with some illness or the assignment wasn’t clear or the car’s been giving him trouble; or better still: “It’s the devil’s work”. Most excuses are often an attempt to defend or manage an ego.
The story in the text is about a man who invited some friends to a dinner at his home. The invitations went out and everyone had accepted and promised to attend. On the day of the party, the man sent out his servants as was customary, and waited for them to fill the dining hall so the festivities could begin. Rather than be dressed for the occasion, the Scripture says they all began to ‘make excuses’.
Thought for the day: God recognises excuses as expressions self-disqualification and irresponsibility.
Bible Reading in one Year: Leviticus 8-11
DCLM Daily Manna was written by Pastor William Folorunso Kumuyi; is the founder and General Superintendent of the Deeper Life Bible Church situated at KM 42 on the busy Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Nigeria.
