Letter from the Pastor

Excuses.
We’ve all got them. I still remember the twinge in my spirit that I felt when I first heard an excuse defined as “a lie wrapped in the skin of reason.” While I am not sure who said it first (and the internet provides a list of people who allegedly did), it sure brought awareness of my need to do a heart check. Is my reason for avoiding a task, a ministry, a hard conversation, a necessary practice, etc. actually legitimate, or have I settled for a lie wrapped in the skin of reason?

We’re not the first generation that has needs to sort this out; in fact, we see people making excuses all through Scripture:

Adam “The woman you put here with me…” (Gen. 3:12)
Eve “The serpent deceived me…” (Gen. 3:13)
Moses “O Lord, I have never been eloquent…” (Ex. 4:10)
Gideon “But Lord, how can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest…” (Judges 4:15)
Isaiah “I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips…” (Isa. 4:5)

And the list goes on. Some felt they lacked training. Some were convinced they lacked needed resources. But all lacked faith.

My attention this new year was drawn to the prophet Jeremiah, in Jeremiah 1. Another man to whom the word of the Lord came. Another excuse offered as to why God’s plan for him wouldn’t work. God said, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.” Jeremiah quickly responded with, “Ah, Sovereign Lord, I do not know how to speak; I
am only a child.” The irony is rich, isn’t it? For Jeremiah to call God ‘sovereign’ yet dismiss the Almighty’s power over Jeremiah’s own limitations and weakness. For him to call God ‘Lord” yet not do what He says. Note the Father’s response: “Do not say, ‘I am only a child.’ You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you. Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you.”

This is such a convicting passage for me, and I suppose it may be for many of us. Have we stepped up to God’s plans for us with an enthusiastic “Here am I, Lord. Send me,” or have we carefully cloaked our disobedience in a skin of reason? If it is the former, then serve with all your heart, enjoying the blessings that come with faithful obedience. If it’s the latter, then confession and repentance will be in order as we prepare to step forward in obedience.

The plan seems simple enough:

Go where He says go. Do what He says do. Don’t focus on the obstacles. Trust Him always.

What is the Master asking of you?