Being The Exception

The Lord was pleased because of His righteousness; to magnify His instruction and make it glorious. But this is a people plundered and looted, all of them trapped in holes or imprisoned in dungeons. They have become plunder, with no one to rescue them, and loot, with no saying, "Give it back!" Who among you will pay attention to this? Let him listen and obey in the future.

Isaiah 42:22-23

Jesus told them, "A man was giving a large banquet and invited many. At the time of the banquet, he sent his slave to tell those who were invited, 'Come because everything is ready." But without exception they all began to make excuses...I ask you to excuse me..." Then in anger the master said, "I tell you not one of those people who were invited will enjoy My banquet."

Luke 14:15-24

One scripture that I share with others that always seem to get their attention is, He that walks with the wise will grow wise, but a companion of fools will suffer for it. How many times have you experienced that or watch it play out before you? The best way to be exceptional is to be the exception...like the returning leper Christ healed, He was an exceptional standout merely because he made it a point to show his gratitude and wanted all to know, especially His healer. Or like the Centurion who stopped The Savior in His tracks when he made it clear that he was a believer, a believer indeed, because just The Master's word would be sufficient to get the job done. Then there is Moses who was faithful in all He did and Ruth who would not let go because she knew The God of Israel was her only hope and Naomi was her only link to Him. Be the exception, His exceptional messenger today.

Luke 7:1-10, 17:11-19, Numbers 12:7, Ruth 1:14-17

"If God has called you to be a missionary, your Father would be grieved for you to shrivel down into a king."

Charles Spurgeon

"We must all mutually share in the knowledge that our existence only attains its true value when we have experienced in ourselves the truth of the declaration: 'He who loses his life shall find it.'"

Albert Schweitzer