August 7, 2017. Jeremiah 1-3

In Order. No Excuse

Being human we come with fears and hesitations when put into situations, and in some cases we will completely avoid them.  We are the masters at excuses and some are better than others, you may even be thinking, “that is not an excuse, it is a legetimate reason.” If we don’t want to do something, we have an excuse. If we don’t want to help a friend move, we have an excuse. If we don’t turn in an assignment on time, we have an excuse.  It does not matter what it is or who is involved, if we don’t want to or are hesitant or lazy, we will come up with some type of excuse.

So what about following Christ? Do you have an excuse for not doing that completely, 100%? Here is what the Lord says to Jeremiah in chapter 1 about speaking to His people on behalf of the Lord himself.

4 The word of the Lord came to me, saying,

5 “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.”

6 “Alas, Sovereign Lord,” I said, “I do not know how to speak; I am too young.”

Jeremiah tells the Lord “I am too young” even after he is told that God himself knew who he was and who he would be before he was even formed in his mother’s womb.  Wow, how incredible is that? God knew you before you were even yet formed. Yet Jeremiah still tried to come up with an excuse. 

7 But the Lord said to me, “Do not say, ‘I am too young.’ You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you.

 8 Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you,” declares the Lord.

9 Then the Lord reached out his hand and touched my mouth and said to me, “I have put my words in your mouth. 

10 See, today I appoint you over nations and kingdoms to uproot and tear down, to destroy and overthrow, to build and to plant.”

Before Jeremiah can come up with another excuse the Lord takes the time to reassure him that he will not be alone and that the Lord would be with him. But he did not only say the words, verse 9 says that the Lord himself reached out his hand and touched Jeremiah’s mouth.  There are no more excuses for Jeremiah, the Lord has taken every argument out of the equation, and the only left to do is nod his head yes and do as the Lord has asked him.

Now here is your challenge, what has the Lord asked of you but you have making excuses to avoid? Is it inviting that neighbor to church? Is it tithing? Or is it simply reading your bible everyday? Stop making those excuses and commit to following the Lord 100%