Overcoming Excuses: Embracing God's Call and Purpose

Devotional

Day 1: Discernment Between Excuses and Reasons

In our spiritual journey, it is crucial to distinguish between excuses and genuine reasons. Excuses often serve as a means to evade responsibility, while reasons acknowledge circumstances without shirking accountability. This distinction is vital in our relationship with God, as we are called to fulfill His commands without resorting to excuses. By examining our motives, we can better align our actions with God's will, ensuring that we are not using excuses to avoid His calling. Reflecting on the story of Moses, we see how his initial hesitations were met with God's reassurance, yet his reluctance delayed the divine plan. This serves as a reminder to confront our excuses and embrace the responsibilities God places before us. [39:28]

Exodus 4:10-12 (ESV): "But Moses said to the Lord, 'Oh, my Lord, I am not eloquent, either in the past or since you have spoken to your servant, but I am slow of speech and of tongue.' Then the Lord said to him, 'Who has made man's mouth? Who makes him mute, or deaf, or seeing, or blind? Is it not I, the Lord? Now therefore go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall speak.'"

Reflection: Identify an area in your life where you have been making excuses instead of taking responsibility. How can you begin to address this today with God's help?

Day 2: Embracing God's Presence in Trials

The number 40 in the Bible often signifies a period of trials and preparation, as seen in the story of Moses. During these times, God's silence should not be mistaken for His absence. Instead, He is actively refining and preparing us for what lies ahead. In our wilderness experiences, we are encouraged to trust in God's presence, knowing that He is working behind the scenes. This understanding helps us to remain steadfast and patient, awaiting the moment when God will reveal His plans and make His presence known. By embracing these periods of preparation, we can grow in faith and readiness for the tasks God has set before us. [50:21]

Deuteronomy 8:2-3 (ESV): "And you shall remember the whole way that the Lord your God has led you these forty years in the wilderness, that he might humble you, testing you to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep his commandments or not. And he humbled you and let you hunger and fed you with manna, which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, that he might make you know that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord."

Reflection: Reflect on a current trial or challenge in your life. How can you shift your perspective to see it as a period of preparation and growth with God's presence?

Day 3: Trusting in God's Power Amidst Insecurities

Moses' reluctance to accept God's calling stemmed from his insecurities and self-doubt. However, God assured him of His presence and power, emphasizing that human weaknesses are not obstacles for Him. Instead, they are opportunities for His strength to be revealed. This truth encourages us to trust in God's power, even when we feel inadequate or unworthy. By surrendering our insecurities to God, we allow Him to work through us, demonstrating His strength and glory. This trust in God's power enables us to step out in faith, confident that He will equip us for the tasks He assigns. [53:19]

2 Corinthians 12:9-10 (ESV): "But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong."

Reflection: Consider an area where you feel insecure or inadequate. How can you invite God to demonstrate His power through your weakness today?

Day 4: The Importance of Immediate Obedience

Delaying obedience to God's commands creates space for excuses and doubt to take root. Immediate obedience is crucial in our spiritual walk, as it reflects our trust in God's wisdom and timing. By cultivating a habit of prompt obedience, we demonstrate our faith in God's ability to equip us for the tasks He assigns. This practice not only strengthens our relationship with God but also ensures that we are actively participating in His divine plan. As we learn from Moses' story, reluctance and delay can introduce complications and hinder the fulfillment of God's purposes. [01:12:54]

James 1:22-25 (ESV): "But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing."

Reflection: Think of a recent prompting from God that you have delayed acting on. What steps can you take today to obey promptly and trust in His guidance?

Day 5: Recognizing God's Communication

God communicates with us in various ways, not just through dramatic signs or miracles. It is essential to be attentive to His voice through scripture, prayer, and the Holy Spirit. By cultivating a sensitivity to God's communication, we can better discern His guidance and respond to His call. This attentiveness requires intentionality and a willingness to seek God's presence in our daily lives. As we learn to recognize His voice, we become more equipped to fulfill the purpose He has for us, overcoming insecurities and embracing His calling with confidence. [01:14:29]

1 Kings 19:11-12 (ESV): "And he said, 'Go out and stand on the mount before the Lord.' And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore the mountains and broke in pieces the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. And after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. And after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire the sound of a low whisper."

Reflection: Reflect on how God has communicated with you recently. How can you create space in your daily routine to listen more attentively to His voice?

Sermon Summary

In today's message, we explored the theme of excuses and how they often hinder us from fulfilling God's purpose in our lives. We began by acknowledging that both children and adults are prone to making excuses to avoid responsibilities. This tendency extends to our spiritual lives, where we often present God with excuses for not following His commands. We delved into the story of Moses in Exodus 3, where God calls Moses to lead the Israelites out of Egypt. Despite the honor of this calling, Moses hesitates and offers multiple excuses, questioning his own capability and God's identity. God patiently addresses each of Moses' concerns, emphasizing His presence and power, yet Moses continues to resist.

We examined the significance of the number 40 in the Bible, representing a period of trials and preparation. Moses' story reminds us that God's silence is not His absence; He is preparing us during our wilderness experiences. We are encouraged to trust in God's presence and respond to His call without delay. The narrative of Moses also highlights the importance of obedience and the consequences of reluctance. Moses' excuses led to a delay in God's plan and introduced complications in his leadership journey.

We concluded by reflecting on our own lives, identifying the excuses we make to avoid God's calling. We are challenged to trust God, obey promptly, and recognize the various ways He communicates with us. By doing so, we can overcome our insecurities and embrace the purpose God has for us.

Key Takeaways

1. **Excuses vs. Reasons:** Excuses are often used to avoid responsibility, while reasons acknowledge circumstances without seeking to escape accountability. In our spiritual lives, we must discern between the two and strive to fulfill God's commands without excuses. [39:28]
2. God's Presence in the Wilderness: The number 40 signifies a time of trials and preparation. During these periods, God's silence should not be mistaken for His absence. He is refining us, and when the time is right, He will make His presence known. [50:21]
3. Trust in God's Power: Moses' reluctance stemmed from his insecurities, yet God assured him of His presence and power. Our weaknesses are not obstacles for God; rather, they are opportunities for His strength to be revealed. [53:19]
4. Immediate Obedience: Delaying obedience allows room for excuses and doubt. We must cultivate a habit of obeying God promptly, trusting that He will equip us for the tasks He assigns. [72:54]
5. Recognizing God's Communication: God speaks in various ways, not just through dramatic signs. We must be attentive to His voice through scripture, prayer, and the Holy Spirit, ready to respond when He calls. [01:14:29]
** [74:29]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[39:28] - The Nature of Excuses
[42:55] - Excuses in Our Spiritual Lives
[48:19] - Moses' Story Begins
[50:21] - God's Presence in the Wilderness
[52:10] - Moses' Reluctance
[53:19] - Trust in God's Power
[54:36] - God's Assurance to Moses
[55:51] - Moses' Continued Doubts
[58:15] - God's Miraculous Signs
[59:40] - Overcoming Insecurities
[62:08] - God's Power in Weakness
[64:12] - Consequences of Reluctance
[66:35] - Leadership Challenges
[68:09] - Personal Stories of Obedience
[72:54] - The Importance of Immediate Obedience
[74:29] - Recognizing God's Communication
[76:49] - Final Encouragement and Prayer

Sermon Clips

1. "But it's not just kids who make excuses, is it? We adults. We also make excuses, too. We're guilty oftentimes when we're asked to do something, or we're just expected to do something because we're supposed to be the responsible ones, and we just don't want to sometimes. So we make up excuses to cover for the things that we don't want to do." ([00:39:28] (18 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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2. "See, we hate when there's people, not just our kids or an annoying coworker, but literally anyone who makes excuses for their poor behavior or their lack of action. For me, this was drilled into me in my high school years on my football team. Our coaches gave us this six kind of phrase mantra that we had as a team, and it was everywhere. It was in our locker room. It was in the weight room. It was on the t-shirts we wore as a team." ([00:40:10] (27 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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3. "And we hate hearing excuses from other people, whether it's our kids, who can't take out the trash because they're playing video games, or it's our favorite team's quarterback, who's like, well, the reason I threw three interceptions is because my offensive line wasn't blocking, for me that day. Or the coworker, who you're supposed to be doing a group project with, and at the last minute, they're like, oh, I didn't get that done on time." ([00:42:19] (20 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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4. "And we come up with all these excuses, and we expect the conversation between us and God to go that way, but the conversation never goes that way, does it? In fact, if you want a more realistic conversation of an excuse maker and the almighty, all-powerful God of the universe, look no further than Scripture." ([00:43:31] (17 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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5. "And so often, when we're in the wilderness, we feel like we're in a place where God is. We feel like we're in a place where God is. We feel like we're in a place where God is. And we feel like we're in a place where God is. And we absence. We must not confuse God's silence with God's absence." ([00:51:06] (18 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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6. "And Moses is going to make a bunch of them. Here's the first one, verse 11. But Moses said to God, you know, there's an excuse coming when a butt shows up, right? So, but Moses said to God, who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt? This is one of the five excuses Moses makes to God." ([00:52:45] (19 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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7. "But God, what if I'm not capable enough? And he's like, no worries. Your ability or lack thereof doesn't matter. I, the almighty, all-powerful God of the universe, am with you. God is with you. If he tasks you to do something, he's going to empower you to do it." ([00:53:40] (21 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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8. "And now we're getting into it, because now we're starting to see Moses' actual insecurities rise up to the surface, specifically that he's not an eloquent speaker. And I can relate, because growing up, I hated public speaking. I hated anything involved with this right here that I'm doing right now." ([00:59:08] (21 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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9. "Our weaknesses and our shortcomings are not valid excuses. They're not. God knows all about them. He makes up for them. And in fact, he thrives in them. But Moses still can't get past this. And so then we have verse 13, where Moses said, pardon your servant, Lord, please send someone else." ([01:02:42] (20 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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10. "My reluctance to obey God rarely affects only me. Now, were God's plans thwarted by Moses's inaction? No. The Israelites heard the plan, right? Pharaoh heard the warnings. Miracles were performed. The people were set free from slavery, and they got to the promised land. Eventually, got to the promised land." ([01:08:09] (21 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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