No More Excuses

Humans have been playing the blame game from the days of Adam and Eve. 

Even if we are caught red handed and the blind see, we always try to clear ourselves and seek to make someone else look like the bad person.

From your recollection of the story, who would you say is to blame for this? Is it Eve who allowed herself to be enticed to do wrong? Is it Adam who tried to appease his wife by committing the act? Or is it satan who interfered with God’s plan? 

Well whatever your answer, I am suggesting to us today that it really doesn’t matter at this stage. Why? Because in this day and age, we really have no excuse to be partakers in sin. 

We have so many examples in the Bible of how God takes care of His own, we don’t need do anything illegal to get by. We have so many accounts of God’s faithfulness in our own lives, the experiences are right there! We have so many instances of when people walk in disobedience how it does not go down well for them. Many of us are suffering today because of our disobedience. How many of us have diabetes because of our poor eating habits for example?

Today, Family, we are so much more enlightened, yet we falter all too often, and what’s more, we make excuses.

Yes we continue to face problem after problem, we have so many challenges, obstacles and setbacks sometimes it doesn’t seem worthwhile to continue on. We feel like we want to give up.

I want to encourage us, Family. in the midst of these trials and tribulations, to remember that we are believers and followers of Jesus Christ, and as a result, we have no excuse to linger in discouragement. 

When we fall down, we must quickly get back up again. And most certainly, we cannot turn our backs on Jesus. God has given us everything we need to live a sustainable lifestyle.

Romans chapter 1 verse 20, reading from The Passion Translation version of The Bible, tells us “Opposition to truth cannot be excused on the basis of ignorance, because from the creation of the world, the invisible qualities of God’s nature have been made visible, such as his eternal power and transcendence. He has made his wonderful attributes easily perceived, for seeing the visible makes us understand the invisible. So then, this leaves everyone without excuse.”

We continue to have direct access to the Holy Spirit for guidance. The promises of God are outlined in His Word and we experience their fulfilment day by day.

John 14:26 “But when the Father sends the Spirit of Holiness, the One like me who sets you free, he will teach you all things in my name. And he will inspire you to remember every word that I’ve told you.”

Family, because of the faith that we have in God, we must be able to press on. I know it’s not easy. But we don’t walk alone, glory to God. 

As the Apostle Paul said in Philippians 4:12-13, we must be trained in the secret of overcoming all things. We can find strength in Christ’s explosive power so that we can conquer every difficulty.

We are reminded in 2 Timothy 1:7 that God will never give us the spirit of fear, instead the Holy Spirit gives us mighty power, love, and self-control. Amen?!

So again, when things don’t go our way, we must not give up on God. We are called as Christians to rise above adversity, to stand firm in whom and what we believe in, and to have that unwavering determination to prove God real to ourselves and to those looking on.

I know it’s not easy, but when trials come, we remember the Word of God. 

James 1:2-4 “My fellow believers, when it seems as though you are facing nothing but difficulties, see it as an invaluable opportunity to experience the greatest joy that you can! For you know that when your faith is tested it stirs up in you the power of endurance. And then as your endurance grows even stronger, it will release perfection into every part of your being until there is nothing missing and nothing lacking.”

We are comforted by 1 Corinthians 10:13 which reminds us that we are not the only ones going through this rough time in life.  “We all experience times of testing, which is normal for every human being. But God will be faithful to you. He will screen and filter the severity, nature, and timing of every test or trial you face so that you can bear it. And each test is an opportunity to trust him more, for along with every trial God has provided for you a way of escape that will bring you out of it victoriously.”

Glory to God, the Bible goes on to say in Proverbs 24:16 “For the lovers of God may suffer adversity and stumble seven times, but they will continue to rise over and over again. But the unrighteous are brought down by just one calamity and will never be able to rise again.”

More reassurance in Isaiah 41:10 “Do not yield to fear, for I am always near. Never turn your gaze from me, for I am your faithful God. I will infuse you with my strength and help you in every situation. I will hold you firmly with my victorious right hand.’”

So what is our excuse to doubt, why do we fear, why do we keep doing as we please, how is it that we keep making the same mistakes over and over again, are we not learning, why do we continue to make excuses?

Family, I want us to leave here today knowing that we have no excuse but to be excellent ambassadors of Jesus Christ. 

We make excuses not to exercise, we make excuses to satisfy all sorts of cravings - we eat what we want when we want, we go on shopping sprees and waste money we don’t have, we make excuses to speak to who we want when we want, we make excuses about going to church in person saying we can go online, excuses, excuses, excuses.

But we cannot continue to make excuses about doing what God wants us to do, Amen?!

God is on our side, and because of that, you and I have the strength, courage, and resilience we need to overcome any obstacle that stands in our way. 

So press along saints. Keep the faith my sister, my brother. Stay on the firing line knowing that though the darts may come the Lord will shield and protect you.

Let us remember that first and foremost, we are accountable to God to be true representatives of His in this dark world. We must stay on the path of righteousness. We can no longer be complacent, our lamps have to be trimmed and burning, we cannot fall asleep but rather we must be watchful waiting for the Lord’s return.

We are cautioned in Romans 2:1, “No matter who you are, before you judge the wickedness of others, you had better remember this: you are also without excuse, for you too are guilty of the same kind of things! When you judge others, and then do the same things they do, you condemn yourself.”

In Luke 12:48, Jesus teaches, “Every servant who does not know his master’s will and unwittingly does what is wrong will receive a less severe punishment. For those who have received a greater revelation from their master are required a greater obedience. And those who have been entrusted with great responsibility will be held more responsible to their master.””

We have no excuse. We must rise to the call to honour God in everything that we do and say, for this brings glory to God and in so doing, we fulfill our purpose here on earth.

I leave us with James 4:17, “So if you know of an opportunity to do the right thing today, yet you refrain from doing it, you’re guilty of sin.”

In essence, we know better, so let us do better. No more excuses Family.

aub - 13May24

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