Daring To Make A Stand For God

Daring to Make a Stand for God

Today’s verses teach me about “Biblical Buts". Biblical buts? Yes, we all have buts. Some are small, but most are usually pretty big. Although some may be bigger than others, we all have them. Some are so big that others try to hide behind them. Some of us use them more than others do. In any case, they always end up getting in the way. Let’s take a look at some buts.

But I can’t do it.

But I’m too old or too young.

But I don’t have an education.

But I don’t have enough money

But I’m too busy.

But I don’t have the time.

But I don’t have the experience.

But I’ve failed before.

But I’m not religious.

But I don’t think God could love me.

But I think someone else could do it better.

But I’m in the wrong job

But I’m in bad health

But I’ve been through so much

WHAT KIND OF BUTS WERE YOU THINKING OF?

We all use our “buts” as an excuse to avoid doing something.

Let’s take a look at a verse in the bible where the Master (who represented God), called people to come to celebrate with Him, but those He called were held back by their “BUTS.”

“15When one of those at the table with him heard this, he said to Jesus, "Blessed is the man who will eat at the feast in the kingdom of God."

16Jesus replied: "A certain man was preparing a great banquet and invited many guests. 17At the time of the banquet he sent his servant to tell those who had been invited, 'Come, for everything is now ready.'

18"But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said, 'I have just bought a field, and I must go and see it. Please excuse me.'

19"Another said, 'I have just bought five yoke of oxen, and I'm on my way to try them out. Please excuse me.'

20"Still another said, 'I just got married, so I can't come.'

21"The servant came back and reported this to his master. Then the owner of the house became angry and ordered his servant, 'Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame.'

22" 'Sir,' the servant said, 'what you ordered has been done, but there is still room.'

23"Then the master told his servant, 'Go out to the roads and country lanes and make them come in, so that my house will be full. 24I tell you, not one of those men who were invited will get a taste of my banquet.'." Luke 14:15-24 NIV, emphasis mine.

In Jesus’ day it was customary to send out 2 invitations when large banquets were prepared.

The first invitation was to announce what day the event was going to occur.

The other invitation was to tell the invited guests that everything was ready.

In this parable, the man who gave the banquet that Jesus is referring to is God. God is preparing a huge feast for us and has sent out the invitations. Once the Lord has the banquet ready, he’ll send out the final invitation. What will your response be?

The excuses that those who are invited to the banquet made back then are really the same excuses we use today.

“But, I’m too busy with work.”

The first guy says, “I just bought a field and I need to go check it out.” In other words, “But I’ve got work to do. I’ve got business to tend too. ” He got his priorities mixed up and although he

”But, I’m too busy with life.”

The second guy says, “I have just bought five yoke of oxen, and I’m on my way to try them out.” I got too many things to do. It is like saying, “I just got a new car, I’ve worked hard all week, and I’ve got to go try it out.” Our priorities are all upside down. We get enthusiastic over new experiences and things and we skip the celebration of Christ.

“But, I’m too busy with family.”

The last one says ’I just got married, so I can’t come.’ It doesn’t’ sound too bad to me. The third guy makes it appear that he is trying to prioritize his wife and as a result, cannot come to the master’s banquet. Here he is putting a human relationship over his heavenly one. How many times do we do the same thing?

Why haven’t you gone to the party?

You have been invited to the party, so why haven’t you gone? What is your excuse? In this passage, after those who were invited turned down the opportunity to be at the party, the Master put out an invitation to everyone who would come. THOSE WHO MISSED THE PARTY AND THE INVITATION WEREN’T PAYING ATTENTION TO WHO WAS INVITING THEM!