The Corresponde Schedule of Services Sunday Bible Study 9:30 AM Worship 10:30 AM Worship 6:00 PM Wednesday Bible Study 1:30 PM 7:00 PM www.collinsville coc.org For from you the word of the Lord has sounded forth... in every place. (1 Thessalonians 1:8) Vol. 44, No. 30 Collinsville Church of Christ July 27, 2016 xcuses are not new. They have been around since the dawn of time, and they are alive and well today. E God seeks those who will worship Him in truth and spirit (John 4:23). He is to be first in the life of every Christian (Matthew 22:37; Matthew 6:33). We are to worship Him on the first day of the week. Yet, many are the excuses for not assembling with the saints. There is yard work. There is overtime pay. There are ball games to play, fish to catch, and game to hunt. Of course, there are late Saturday night parties and company coming in for the week end. It is amazing how many can place God first in their lives when there is nothing else to take His place, but move him down on the priority list when it becomes more convenient. Jesus taught that we are to take the gospel to others (Matthew 28:19-20). Paul encouraged Timothy to teach faithful men so they could teach others (2 Timothy 2:2). Yet, there is always an excuse for not teaching God’s word to others. It might be a matter of time. One can always find other things that must be done. Or possibly one excuses himself because he does not have the ability. However, one need not be a scholar to teach another the simple plan of salvation. Another classic excuse is that “they won’t listen” or “they are not interested.” It is amazing how well the minds of others can be read. Christians today must know the minds of men as Jesus did. The examples are abundant. There are excuses for not studying regularly. Will Excuses Cost You?
Transcript
The Correspon
Schedule of ServicesSunday
Bible Study 9:30 AMWorship 10:30 AMWorship 6:00 PM
WednesdayBible Study 1:30 PM
7:00 PMwww.collinsvillecoc.org
For from you the word of the Lord has sounded forth... in every place. (1 Thessalonians 1:8)
Vol. 44, No. 30 Collinsville Church of Christ July 27, 2016
xcuses are not new. They have been around since the dawn of time, and they are alive and well today. EGod seeks those who will worship Him in truth and
spirit (John 4:23). He is to be first in the life of every Christian (Matthew 22:37; Matthew 6:33). We are to worship Him on the first day of the week. Yet, many are the excuses for not assembling with the saints. There is yard work. There is overtime pay. There are ball games to play, fish to catch, and game to hunt. Of course, there are late Saturday night parties and company coming in for the week end. It is amazing how many can place God first in their lives when there is nothing else to take His place, but move him down on the priority list when it becomes more convenient.
Jesus taught that we are to take the gospel to others (Matthew 28:19-20). Paul encouraged Timothy to teach faithful men so they could teach others (2 Timothy 2:2). Yet, there is always an excuse for not teaching God’s word to others. It might be a matter of time. One can always find other things that must be done. Or possibly one excuses himself because he does not have the ability. However, one need not be a scholar to teach another the simple plan of salvation. Another classic excuse is that “they won’t listen” or “they are not interested.” It is amazing how well the minds of others can be read. Christians today must know the minds of men as Jesus did.
The examples are abundant. There are excuses for not studying regularly. Being baptized can wait for another day. The importance of attending Bible class is dismissed. Visiting and seeing after the needs of others can be explained away. “Reasons (?)” can always be found for doing the things we ought not do, and for not doing the things that we ought to be doing. There is never a lack of excuses.
Yet, how does God look at those excuses? In the parable of the great supper (Luke 14:16-24), there were
those who made excuses when bidden to attend the great feast. Others were bidden, and the words of the lord were recorded, “For I say unto you, that none of those men that were bidden shall taste of my supper” (Luke 14:24). In one incident where there were some who made excuses when invited to follow Jesus, He responded, “No man, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God” (Luke 9:62).
Think about your life. Are you fit for the kingdom, or do you make excuses? On the Day of Judgment, will you be turned away from the feast because you have made excuses rather than yield to God’s will?
******* Prepaid cards are in high demand today. The younger
set really goes for them. There are some problems with them, however. You have to read the fine print because, under some circumstances, I understand the value of the card diminishes.
You and I have a prepaid plan that cannot be beat. The consequences of our sins have been prepaid by the blood of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. The quality that awaits us is that of our Lord Himself. We have the hope of a glorified body like that of our Lord (Philippians 3:20-21).
Beloved, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure. 1 John 3:2-3 ESV
Keep yourself pure today and every day that you might continue to have that hope of one day receiving a glorified body like His.
TLM
Collinsville Church of Christ
Will Excuses Cost You?
1400 Troy RoadCollinsville, IL 62234Phone: (618) 667-6708Email: [email protected]
