Last winter my husband and I were waking up at 5 am to work out together. It was horrifying, but it was also great. I felt great. But then Disney happened, then the summer, and well excuses. Eventually the excuses removed us from routine. Five months later and I am still not in a good routine and my thighs, butt, and “always appear to be pregnant” belly is basking in all its glory.
Maybe you don’t relate. Maybe exercise is your thing. I applaud you because I’d rather have a miracle pill (chewable because you know I can’t swallow pills) that preferably tastes like coffee.
What about the time you walked out of church with a fire in your soul and you knew that God was speaking to you directly? It was time to make some changes. As you walked to get your kids from the children’s church you began making checklists in your head of all you can do. Then you picked up your kids, got home to then feed them, and either got them ready for a nap or began the daunting task of preparing for the week ahead. Either way, that awesome list you started to make never made it to paper and since you’re 99% sure your memory has disappeared with the birth of your children, so did any recollection of the list. You MIGHT remember the list just before your eyes finally close that night in which you tell yourself you will start tomorrow.
Five months later and you are singing with Ariel, “Excuses? I’ve got 20. But who cares? No big deal. I’ve got mooooooooore!”
Obviously that is not the lyrics to the song, but now it is stuck in your head. You’re welcome. You see, sometimes our excuses are not blatant disregard for God’s calling. But instead are the product of allowing the daunting tasks of life to get in the way.
In Luke 14 Jesus is speaking on the Kingdom of God when a man excitedly speaks on how amazing this will be. Jesus replies in “Jesus style” with a story, one that I can relate to.
15 When one of those at the table with him heard this, he said to Jesus, “Blessed is the one who will eat at the feast in the kingdom of God.”
16 Jesus replied: “A certain man was preparing a great banquet and invited many guests. 17 At the time of the banquet he sent his servant to tell those who had been invited, ‘Come, for everything is now ready.’
18 “But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said, ‘I have just bought a field, and I must go and see it. Please excuse me.’
19 “Another said, ‘I have just bought five yoke of oxen, and I’m on my way to try them out. Please excuse me.’
20 “Still another said, ‘I just got married, so I can’t come.’
21 “The servant came back and reported this to his master. Then the owner of the house became angry and ordered his servant, ‘Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame.’
22 “‘Sir,’ the servant said, ‘what you ordered has been done, but there is still room.’
23 “Then the master told his servant, ‘Go out to the roads and country lanes and compel them to come in, so that my house will be full. 24 I tell you, not one of those who were invited will get a taste of my banquet.’”
“God use me!” or “I will walk through any door you open,” how many times have you said these words?
But just when the door is ready. Out roll our excuses. I just bought a house, I can’t move for your ministry (18) I just purchased all of this _____ I certainly can’t invest in Your Kingdom (19) or I am newly married or a new mom or a new ______ I don’t have the time to serve (20).
Yes, God, open a door for me. Oh but wait, not that door. That door is too hard. That door will financially challenge me. That door will require me to give up _______. I don’t have time for that door.
Here is the thing. God doesn’t NEED us to do any of these things.
He will find someone else who is willing to listen to His calling. We have free will.
Will you choose to continue to make excuses or are you willing to walk through the door and into the banquet?
