I know I need to but…
Excuses – none of us like excuses. As parents we have heard our children give us a 1000 reasons why they couldn’t or didn’t do what they were told. As co-workers we hear the reasons and excuses on why something wasn’t their responsibility or in their job description.
We have a large segment of our society that won’t take or accept responsibility for their own actions but are quick to justify or excuse their actions.
It’s frustrating to say the least!
Now imagine you are God. How many times each minute do you hear excuses. The devil made me do it was the first excuse ever; I’m not qualified, I’m not talented, I’m too busy…on and on it goes. I was reminded of Moses this morning – making excuses.
“Moses asked the Lord, ‘Suppose everyone refuses to listen to my message, and no one believes that you really appeared to me?'” Exodus 4:1 CEV
And the Lord provided him with signs and an answer.
Then”Moses replied, “I have never been a good speaker. I wasn’t one before you spoke to me, and I’m not one now. I am slow at speaking, and I can never think of what to say.” Exodus 4:10 CEV
The Lord provided him with an additional answer.
Resistance, excuse #3. “Moses begged, ‘Lord, please send someone else to do it.’” Exodus 4:13 CEV
At this point the Lord is angered. He isn’t mad like we get mad but He was angered by Moses’ resistance to obeying what he has been asked to do. It’s as if Moses were saying, I know it’s you Lord but that’s just not enough.
Have you ever said something like that to the Lord? Me neither – ya, right! The Lord has given us His promise to never leave us or forsake us and He’s given us the Holy Spirit to be our strength and our guide, what more do we need? He’s even given us His Word filled with examples of His faithfulness to people in the past.
The Lord will listen to our fears, our concerns and our excuses but He will remind us that He has called us; He won’t give up on us.
“Aaron will speak to the people for you, and you will be like me, telling Aaron what to say. I will be with both of you as you speak, and I will tell each of you what to do. 17 Now take this walking stick and use it to perform miracles.” Exodus 4:16-17 CEV
No more excuses – time to go and do what we are called to do knowing that the Lord’s power and promises won’t fail!
This is so true Kristi, I would join you, but….
Oops slipped into that mode again, it comes naturally to our humanity. May we hear ourselves as He hears us, and be guided into obedience to His call.
God bless you sister.