TODAY’S WORD FOR THURSDAY JANUARY 1, 2015.
EXCUSE
Seek to lessen the blame for a fault or offence; try to justify or defend.
If I had not come and spoken to them, they would have no sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin. John 15:22.
As we begin a New Year our greatest concern is for people, children, youth and adults, who use excuses as to why they do not accept Jesus as their Savior. We urge you as you begin this New Year, if you do not know Jesus as your Savior that you get rid of all of your excuses and accept Jesus today.
Jesus did not mean in this verse, that we have written above, that if He had not come, we would have been sinless. But what He is saying is that by His coming to this earth He has made us aware of the severest and most deadly sin that one can commit. That is rejecting (using excuses) and rebelling against God and His truth. The coming of Jesus to this earth gave evidence to the truth of God. Once we have received knowledge of the truth we are held accountable for what we do about it. Therefore, we have no possible excuse for rejecting the good news of the gospel.
How many times have you heard someone give an excuse for something not completed or not done? Children always have an excuse when they are caught in doing wrong. The making of an excuse for wrong actions isn’t limited to children. Adults are just as guilty. Most excuses are given to justify laziness. We do not know how many times we have heard the excuse that they just did not feel like doing what they should have done.
We use excuses to justify our inaction. You have often heard, “I was just so busy that I could not get around to doing it?” Most excuses are what we would call “lame.” They are a lot like the child that tells his teacher that he cannot turn in his homework because “the dog ate it.”
In John 15, Jesus was teaching His disciples the gospel message and what to expect when they would be the ones teaching others. Just as Jesus and His message were rejected by many, He told them that they also would have their message rejected by excuses. This is still true today. As believers we must continue to tell all those we can, through our words and deeds, of Jesus love and plan of redemption, knowing that at times our message will be rejected. Those who accept Jesus will be saved, but those who reject Him will “have no excuse for their sin” when they meet God and are destined for an eternity in Hell.
In Luke 14:15-24 Jesus shares what is called the parable of the great supper. The master, the parable says, invited his friends and neighbors to a great feast. They all gave excuses as to why they could not come. All their excuses were weak and had a smack of insincerity which made it evident that they did not want to come. Jesus likened their excuses to all the excuses that are given when people are invited to know Jesus as their Savior and they do not want to come to Him.
People come up with many excuses as to why they cannot accept Jesus. Many just do not want to change their ways. Others say they do not have to worry about it now as there is plenty of time and want to wait till later in their lives. These are all excuses that are not acceptable to our Lord. Everyone who rejects Jesus is without excuse in God’s sight.
In Romans 1:18-20 the writer talks about the end-time judgment of men when the wrath of God will come against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men. At that time it will be too late for excuses. He goes on to tell us that since the creation of the world God’s invisible attributes are clearly seen, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that all of us are without excuse.
God has revealed Himself in His creation. In this universe we see His Intelligence, His beauty, His power, and His provisions. Those who reject God have no excuse. Salvation is available to all just for the asking and excuses such as not knowing or waiting until later are not acceptable.
Our memory verse for this week is found in Philippians 4:4.
Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice!
Thank You, Lord that You made Yourself known to us and have given us the choice to accept or reject You. Thank You that my sins have been forgiven because I have accepted You as my Savior.
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