Excuses, a reason or explanation put forward to defend or justify a fault or offense. Well we’ve all used them at some point to explain our school work not being done, maybe being late for work or even for not going to work at all. They certainly are nothing new. In fact we can see them in Scripture. Take for example, Luke 9:57. Jesus was walking along and said to a man, “follow me”. But his response was that he had to go first and bury his father. But Jesus said, “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the Kingdom of God.”
Now yet another man said that he would follow Jesus but first wanted to go say goodbye to his family. Jesus responded, “No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the Kingdom of God.”
Jesus was calling these guys to give up everything, family, friends and job to follow Him. But He only got excuses. Jesus still calls us to give up, sometimes everything, to follow Him. But do we make excuses? Do we only offer Him excuses as these men did? Perhaps we may have even offered Him so many excuses that He has stopped asking.
Ask yourself what has Jesus asked of you that you have only offered excuses? Pray today for Jesus to give you opportunities to serve Him and to help you see beyond the excuses to full obedience.
the Rear Pew 