“But they all alike began to make excuses…” Luke 14:16-24
We’ve all made excuses at some point. Here are a few good ones: “I have issues and Spiderman is coming over to solve them. Can’t go to school.” “I thought it was supposed to snow today, so I slept in.” “I can’t come to work today. My cat has hiccups.”
While the above might make us chuckle, God is not amused by our feeble excuses. He doesn’t care about the multitude of pretexts men can come up with when it comes to salvation or doing His will.
Excuses are simply a means to avoid doing what we don’t want to do, a lack of desire to be molded and used by God. Take Moses – “I messed up. Find someone else who is better qualified” (Exodus 4:13-17). Or Jonah – “Uh-Unh, God. Not me. That’s the bad part of town.” (Jonah 1:3). Then there’s Gideon – “You don’t know the family I come from.” (Judges 6:15)
The truth is, when God calls us and we make excuses, we risk missing God’s direction and timing for our lives. We’re telling God, “I know better.”
My excuse? “I’m not good enough.” How pitiful is that? As though His work in and through me depends on my ability. Those God calls, he also equips. 2 Peter 1:3 states, “By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence.” I don’t need more talent, more qualifications. What I need is more of Him!
God didn’t accept Moses’ excuses. He didn’t coddle Gideon or Jonah. He assured them of His presence and His power, then repeated His call upon their lives. Thankfully, they responded by obeying.
Don’t miss out on God’s promises for your life. Fix your gaze upon Christ and His power in your life and accept the challenge. I guarantee you the moment you step out in faith, those excuses you made will ring hollow.
Prayer: Lord, I don’t need more of this or that to serve you. What I truly need is more of you in every part of me.
Thought: God’s assignments are always accompanied by the promise of his presence and that is enough to accomplish whatever it is He asks of me.