WHAT IS YOUR EXCUSE??

Too many people moan too much. They make excuses for not doing something. Actually by “they” I mean WE.

When we are asked to do something we are swift, clever, comical, witty, intelligent or simply downright rude with the answer we give: “Honey, can you do the washing up”. “Not right now babe I just want to watch the game” “Sweetheart would you mind cooking dinner” “But I’ve been at work all day and I’m too tired”

When God asks us to do something our normal first reaction is “You can’t mean me I:

Am too old

Am too young

Don’t have any money

Am too scared

Am too much of a sinner

Did that really horrible thing that I can’t talk about

Drank too much last week

Cannot speak I get nervous and stutter

Have a criminal record

I’m in prison

And so on and so forth. You get the point. Have a look at these fine upstanding and righteous people that God decide He would use to fulfil His purposes:

Noah            –        Drunk

Abraham      –        Liar

Sarah           –        Too old to have more children

Moses           –        Speech impediment – disobeyed God

David           –        Adulterer – Accomplice to murder – Disobedient to God

Elijah           –        Afraid and ran away – isolated

Gideon         –        Made an idol of gold – Felt inadequate

Joseph         –        Full of pride

Joshua         –        Did what he was told not to

Samson        –        Fell to a woman’s tempting

Solomon       –        Greedy (excessive taxes) – placed people into forced labour

Peter            –        Denied knowing Jesus

Paul             –        Persecuted Christians

Timothy       –        Timid

Thomas        –        Pessimistic

I think you will agree that if lined up in front of you with each of these attributes I am not sure that you and I would employ any them for your job vacancy. Thank God that I am not Him and He sees potential and then uses that potential:

Noah            –        Saved the animals and was the only Christian in his region

Abraham      –        Founder of the Jewish nation

Sarah           –        Mother of a nation, ancestor of Jesus

Moses           –        Led the Israelites out of Egypt

David           –        Became the greatest King of Israel

Elijah           –        Represented God in a “showdown” with priests

Gideon         –        One of the Judges of Israel – military expert

Joseph         –        Brought Egypt through famine – was full of Spirit of God

Joshua         –        Revived the temple – obedient to Gods call

Samson        –        Started the freeing of Israel from Palestine

Solomon       –        Wisest man that ever lived – built Gods temple

Peter            –        Leader amongst the disciples

Paul             –        Shaped the history of Christianity

Timothy       –        Highly respected Christian – Pauls special representative

Thomas        –        An honest and loyal man- one of the 12

So when you are called by God to do something for Him, I wouldn’t worry too much about all or any of your shortcomings.

Our minister (Rev Bob McKay) sometime last year shared this in a sermon and it has stuck with me (not sure if this was “his” but it doesn’t matter):

“God does not call the “equipped” He “equips” the called”

I thought this was brilliant.

Just think that through a few times then look at the characters above, then look at your own life. I bet you can come up with some weaknesses.

We need to get ourselves in a position where we are willing to listen for His call and prompting and that we will react to it.

If God wants to use you then He will provide you with everything you need so that you can fulfil that calling. And don’t forget that He already knows what you need because he already knows what he has in store for you.

Jeremiah 29 vs. 11 says: “I know the plans I have for you says the Lord, plans to prosper and not to harm you”

So: What IS your excuse? Whatever it is God will sort it out, just be ready to step into that calling and step out of your box and stop making excuses.

God Bless