Thanks for joining us on this journey of building a consistent habit of reading our Bibles every day. The Bible reading plan we are using this year can be found here: One Year Bible or here on the Bible app. As always, if you miss a day, don’t feel compelled to go back and catch up. Just skip it and start back on today’s date. I am reading the NLT this year, but feel free to use whatever version you prefer. Now here are some thoughts from today’s readings:

‘Friend,’ he asked, ‘how is it that you are here without wedding clothes?’ But the man had no reply.
– Matthew 22:12

     Motives matter. In Jesus’ parable about a king’s wedding feast, none of the guest who were invited would come. They all had their excuses. So he sent his servants to go invite random people to the feast. Some of these people were so excited that the King had invited them that they went and put on their best wedding attire as a way to honor the king.

     But one guy just came for the food. He didn’t even clean up for the wedding. The fact that he didn’t deserve to be there hadn’t crossed his mind. He didn’t show up to honor those who were getting married. You would think he would have some sort of appreciation, right?

     This is a picture of our lives. God’s Kingdom is the great wedding. We won’t ever be perfect, but with God’s help we can at least begin to prepare ourselves. However, some people don’t want to honor God with their lives. They are “just here for the food”, or the blessings. They don’t care about the king at all, really. We see the sad fate that awaits them.

     Before we are believers, we come to Christ as we are. God takes us in wearing our worst. But once we are in, something begins to change in us. We are so appreciative of what God did for us, that, with His help, we begin to grow and change. We give God our best because He gave us His best, Jesus. Today, many believers try to excuse away their sin. They even use God’s grace as an excuse to live how they want. They don’t want to change their clothes and bring their King their best.

     There are a lot of reasons out there to live how you want, but you only need on reason to change. You’re love for Christ. That doesn’t mean you’ll be perfect. None of us will be. But that shouldn’t stop us from pursuing holiness in an effort to bring joy to our King. Even though our best is imperfect, we should do our best to bring our best to God every time.

Are you giving God your best? Are there areas of your life where you are making excuses?