Moses ran into the desert because of fear. It took 40 years for God to get his attention, and used a burning bush. Life was comfortable—wife, children, sheep, and not having to deal with his past. God loves us the way we are, but loves us too much to leave us that way. What Moses may not have known was that God was using those years to prepare him for a great work ahead.
When God appeared in the bush, He called Moses, and gave him the orders of his mission. The first thing that Moses said to God, "What if?" Does that sound familiar? After a little more conversation, God told Moses he would go before Pharaoh. Then Moses' response was, "Oh I'm not a public speaker. I wouldn't know what words to use. I'm not educated." Do these excuses ring a bell?
God wants us to share the Gospel. "Oh God, I could never. What if....they won't listen to me? What if...I don't know what to say? What if...they turn their back on me and walk away?" We have so many excuses for sharing the Gospel, it's embarrassing. But don't we have a joke on the tip of our tongue at all moments, so that we can make people laugh? We can tell of our experiences, but not share the Gospel.
Excuses for not eating healthy is my #1....even when I do get hungry, a slice of bread will do, or a bowl of cereal, ice cream. Coffee, oh yes, that would fit the bill just right. I know what I need to do, but what if....those what if excuses are not good. They will not make me healthy and neither give me energy.
Some people are called to ministry in the church. They have their "what if" excuses, too.
The truth is, when we give excuses for what we know we should do, we will lose the blessing God has for us. God wants our heart, mind, and soul. Excuses are not a part of that. Excuses to love, forgive, to bless others, to visit the sick, go on a mission trip, and last but definitely not least, to Read your Bible every day.
The enemy will keep us from God's Word...I'll do it later, my kids keep me busy, I'm already late for work, the laundry needs doing, ball game...the excuses are endless.
What's your excuse for not doing what you know God wants you to do?
His Abundant Grace
barb
No comments:
Post a Comment