Day 2: The Fibbing Farmer

"I have bought a piece of land and I need to go out and look at it; please consider me excused." - Luke 14:18

Cowboy Wisdom: Any rancher worth his salt knows you don't buy land sight unseen. You ride every acre, check the water sources, test the soil, and count the grass before you put down your money. This farmer's excuse was as full of holes as a fence after a tornado.

We've all been there - making up reasons that sound good on the surface but crumble under scrutiny. The truth is, when we really want to do something, we find a way. When we don't want to do it, we find an excuse. This farmer could have seen his land any other day, but he used it as cover for the real truth: he didn't want to come to the feast.

Sometimes we dress up our spiritual avoidance in fancy clothes, making our excuses sound reasonable, even noble. But God sees through our carefully crafted explanations to the heart of the matter - we're just not interested in what He's offering.

Questions for Reflection

1. Can you think of a time when you gave a "reasonable" excuse to avoid something God was asking of you?
2. What's the difference between a legitimate reason and a convenient excuse in your spiritual life?
3. How can you be more honest with yourself about your real motivations when declining God's invitations?
   

​Prayer Focus: Lord, help me to be honest about my excuses. When I'm avoiding You, give me the courage to admit it rather than hiding behind explanations that sound good but aren't true. Make my heart genuinely hungry for what You're offering. Amen.