Introduction

Greetings, beloved family of God. It is a joyous occasion to gather together, whether in person or in spirit, to delve into the richness of God’s word. We are here, not by coincidence, but by divine appointment. We come together, not as strangers, but as brothers and sisters, united in the love of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

In the hustle and bustle of life, it's easy to get caught up in the whirlwind of tasks, responsibilities, and distractions. We often find ourselves running on the treadmill of busyness, forgetting to pause and reflect on the one who gives us breath, strength, and purpose. Today, we are going to consider the importance of Bypassing Busyness for Christ.

We also tend to erect walls of excuses, which prevent us from fully embracing the call of Christ. We say, "I'm too busy," or "I'm not ready," or "I'm not worthy." But in the wisdom of God’s word, we will learn about Breaking Down Barriers of Excuses.

Finally, we will reflect on the necessity of Building Bridges to Christ. The Gospel is not a private treasure to be hoarded, but a precious gift to be shared. We are called to be bridge-builders, connecting others to the love, grace, and mercy found in Christ.

Our guide for today's reflection is found in the Gospel of Luke, chapter 14, verses 16-24: "A certain man was preparing a great banquet and invited many guests. At the time of the banquet he sent his servant to tell those who had been invited, 'Come, for everything is now ready.' 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.' Another said, 'I have just bought five yoke of oxen, and I'm on my way to try them out. Please excuse me.' Still another said, 'I just got married, so I can't come.' 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.' 'Sir,' the servant said, 'what you ordered has been done, but there is still room.' Then the master told his servant, 'Go out to the roads and country lanes and compel them to come in, so that my house will be full. I tell you, not one of those who were invited will get a taste of my banquet.'"

Bypassing Busyness for Christ

In the hustle and bustle of our daily lives, it's easy to get caught up in the whirlwind of tasks, responsibilities, and distractions. We often find ourselves running on the treadmill of busyness, forgetting to pause and reflect on the one who gives us breath, strength, and purpose.

We live in a world that values productivity and efficiency. We are constantly bombarded with messages that tell us to do more, achieve more, and be more. Our calendars are filled to the brim with appointments, meetings, and deadlines. We are always on the go, always in a hurry, always trying to squeeze in just one more thing.

But amid all this busyness, where is Christ? Have we made room for Him in our schedules? Have we prioritized our relationship with Him above all else? Or have we pushed Him to the sidelines, relegating Him to the margins of our lives?

In the parable of the great banquet, the invited guests were too busy to attend. They had fields to see, oxen to try out, and marriages to attend to. They were consumed with their own affairs, their own interests, their own desires. They were too busy for the banquet, too busy for the master, too busy for Christ.

But the master was not deterred. He sent his servant out to the streets and alleys, to the roads and country lanes, to bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind, and the lame. These were the people who had time for the banquet, who had time for the master, who had time for Christ. We must not let our busyness become a barrier to our relationship with Christ. We must not let our tasks, responsibilities, and distractions crowd out our time with Him. We must make Christ our top priority, our first love, our ultimate desire.

How do we do this? How do we bypass busyness for Christ?

First, we must recognize that our time is a gift from God. Every second, every minute, every hour is a precious commodity that we must steward wisely. We must not squander our time on trivial pursuits, but invest it in things of eternal value. We must use our time to seek God, to know Him, to love Him, and to serve Him.

Second, we must learn to say no. We cannot do everything, be everywhere, and please everyone. We must learn to set boundaries, to prioritize, to make tough decisions. We must learn to say no to good things in order to say yes to the best thing, which is Christ.

Third, we must cultivate a habit of solitude and silence. In a world that is constantly noisy and busy, we must carve out time for quiet reflection and meditation. We must retreat from the world in order to draw near to God. We must silence the noise in order to hear His voice.

Fourth, we must practice the presence of God. We must learn to commune with God in the midst of our daily activities, to pray without ceasing, to abide in Him at all times.

Breaking Down Barriers of Excuses

As we continue to reflect on the parable of the great banquet, we find ourselves face to face with the excuses of the invited guests ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO