NO EXCUSES
This was the title of a sermon given by Pastor Matt last May, and those words hit me like a slap in the face. Why? Because after Terri Clark passed away the Board decided someone needed to continue writing a blog for the website, and God TOLD ME to volunteer. I didn’t know anything about writing, and many of my lessons have shown that. At this time, I was at least a month behind in posting a new lesson, and not particularly anxious (dreading is a better description) to start a new one because I didn’t have a topic. (Excuse #1) I don’t like to write. It’s hard. It’s work. I’m retired and there are a lot of things I’d definitely rather do. (Excuse #2) However, I do love to teach: it’s done face-to-face, the class interacts; I ask them questions, they ask me questions, and we look up scripture together. It’s fun. I can, and usually do, get quite passionate when I talk about my God; but I don’t think I can show passion with the written word. (Excuse #3) So you can see why the sermon topic made me sit up and listen.
Matt went on to name several people whom God had chosen to do some extremely important things for Him: Moses, Matt said, gave God five excuses for why the Lord was “making a mistake” by asking him to lead His people out of Egypt. He also mentioned Abraham, Gideon, and Jonah. (I could swear he mentioned my name, too, but that was probably just the little angel sitting on my shoulder, making sure I was listening. He can be obnoxious sometimes, but, hey, he’s just ‘doing what God tells him to do’, as I was supposed to do.)
God doesn’t make mistakes. He does the right things, at the right time, in the right way, and chooses the people He wants to accomplish His purposes. Who can argue with God? He certainly has difficulties with some of us, getting us to listen, trust, and obey. Amen? But Moses and the others did what He asked. What made them give in? Because He told them to, for one reason, and putting off or disobeying God can make a person very miserable. Maybe you know what I’m talking about? But the MAIN reason they obeyed was because He told them “I will be with you”. What excuse could be given then? None, really. He gave Moses people to go with him (Read Exodus chapter 3 through chapter 7.) And it didn’t keep Gideon from questioning if it was really God talking to him, and if he was the right person. After all, his tribe was the lowest of the twelve, and he was the lowest member of his tribe. Remember, he tossed a fleece out on the ground to test God, and then went for two out of three, just to be sure. (Read Judges 6-8) And Jonah? He knew it was God telling him what to do, but he just didn’t want to, and we all know what God did to convince him! (Read Jonah 1-4)
I guess I’ve been a little bit of each one of these people: like Moses, not confident that I can do it; like Gideon, God must be thinking I’m someone else; and like Jonah, I’m just being stubborn. On the other hand, just as He did with Moses, He has provided people to help me: my writing coach, Elaine Hall, and my teammate, Janet Phelps. As with Gideon, God chooses whom He wants, and I’m learning that He can accomplish what he wants with very little. (From 32,000 men to 300). And Jonah? Well, I haven’t been swallowed by a whale, but until I finally obey, I’m sometimes VERY despondent.
In Isaiah 55:11, God says “It is the same with my word. I shall send it out, and it always produces fruit. It will accomplish all I want it to, and it will prosper everywhere I send it.” So, if the little angel on your shoulder (the Holy Spirit) is telling you to do something: speak to a stranger, witness, pray for something or with someone, to step out into unfamiliar territory, know that He is with you, and His work WILL be done. Philippians 4:13 also encourages us: “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.” Note it says ALL THINGS, not some things. Romans 8:31 says “If God is for us, who can be against us?” We don’t let others tell us something for God cannot be done; that we aren’t capable, or it’s beyond our abilities. We are to simply be willing; HE is able. And finally, know this: John 14:27, Jesus himself promises “I am leaving you with a gift – PEACE OF MIND AND HEART. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give: MY PEACE. So don’t be troubled or afraid.” Yes, I still struggle with writing, but it’s what God wants said, and I am at peace obeying Him.
The Bible has probably a thousand promises, but simply armed with the ones above, what excuses can we give that would not be overcome with these? Not obeying won’t keep His work from being done; He will just get someone else to do it, and we will have missed a tremendous blessing. And when we face Him someday, HE might ask us, “What did you do with what I gave you?” We will really have NO EXCUSES.
In His service, and yours,
Mike Jared
TCM board member
No Comments