Excuses, Excuses, Excuses

Luke‬ ‭9:57‭-‬62‬ [57] Now it happened as they journeyed on the road, that someone said to Him, “Lord, I will follow You wherever You go.” [58] And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.” [59] Then He said to another, “Follow Me.” But he said, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.” [60] Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and preach the kingdom of God.” [61] And another also said, “Lord, I will follow You, but let me first go and bid them farewell who are at my house.” [62] But Jesus said to him, “No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.”

Just recently I read that God took Enoch, and he (Enoch) did not experience physical death. In a very corrupt and sinful world, before God destroyed every living thing with a worldwide flood, only Noah was found to be righteous. What set these two men apart? In both instances, Enoch and Noah walked with God. They both lived in obedience to God, preaching of the judgment that was to come. Today, we have the same opportunity to walk with God in obedience, and preach the Good News of what Jesus did for us, and warn of the coming judgment for those who reject the free gift of salvation being offered. What is stopping us from walking with God? What excuses are we giving the Lord for not walking with Him? Are we lacking faith? Are we more concerned with the things of earth than we are the things of heaven? Sadly, many of us will lose out on much heavenly reward, and miss out on the great blessing of having a true intimate relationship with Jesus because we refuse to let go of the things, and concerns, of this world. Far too many of us start to walk with the Lord, but then start to look back, much like Lot's wife did when God graciously and mercifully allowed Lot and his family to escape God's judgment upon, and destruction of, Sodom and Gomorrah. Today, let us stop and take inventory of our lives and ask God to show us what is hindering our walk with Him. What is keeping us from walking with and following after Jesus? It's time to stop making excuses and start making disciples. But before we can make disciples, we need to be disciples who don't make excuses for why we ourselves can't be disciples.

Today, God extends an invitation to you to accept His free gift of salvation (Romans 6:23). Will you accept it? Anyone who calls on Jesus, by faith, in repentance, confessing your sins, will receive eternal life. Do not put off calling on Him, and receive His free gift of salvation today (Romans 10:13).