Excuseville

Then I said, “Ah, Lord God! Behold, I do not know how to speak, for I am only a youth.” Jeremiah 1:6

I’d like to think that if God showed up and commanded me to do something, that I would do it, no matter how crazy it seemed. It’s God, so I’d obey no matter what, right?

In today’s passage, God spoke to a young Jeremiah, telling him that he had chosen Jeremiah to be his prophet. Jeremiah politely declined. That’s great of you to ask God, but I’m far too young. Thanks for asking!

As much as I’d like to think that I’d obey God’s command, I’m pretty sure that, like Jeremiah, if I didn’t really want to, I would have some excuse. That’s kind of you to ask God, but I’ve got a job and family. I’m really not good enough anyway.

The truth is, God has already told me how to live. Christ said that I must love God with all my heart and that I must love my neighbor as myself. I need to help those around me in need. Daily, I must abandon my will for God’s and share with others what Christ has done for me.

God has told me how to live, but I have my excuses. That’s a lot of work God. If I did all those things, it would radically change my life. I wouldn’t have time for all the stuff I want to do. I’m no minister. I’ve got my own life to live here. 

I’ve become so familiar with excuses that I don’t even realize I’m doing it anymore. I simply live in my excuses, comfortable in my disobedience. I claim to follow God, but my actions reveal that I’m still addicted to myself. If I call myself a Christian though, I must learn to obey. When God asks me to help someone in need, I must say yes. When God wants me to meet him every morning before dawn I must do it. When God calls, I must learn to answer.

God is always calling. Instead of living in our excuses, we must learn to say yes. If we say we believe in him, we must follow and obey.