EXCUSES, EXCUSES, EXCUSED. 077

We have heard it said before, God does not call the qualified, he qualifies who He calls. Many times, we respond to God’s call with reasons why we are not qualified, we then use these reasons to ignore the call, or to justify rejecting it.

Exodus 4 10 And Moses said unto the Lord, O my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither heretofore, nor since thou hast spoken unto thy servant: but I am slow of speech, and of a slow tongue. 11 And the Lord said unto him, Who hath made man's mouth? or who maketh the dumb, or deaf, or the seeing, or the blind? have not I the Lord? 12 Now therefore go, and I will be with thy mouth, and teach thee what thou shalt say.

Moses brought excuses and sought to justify why he wasn’t qualified. What were his excuses?

- He wasn’t eloquent

- He was inexperienced

- Slow speech and a slow tongue (had a speech impediment)

Do you identify with any of these?

What was God’s response?

Let’s look at another example,

Jeremiah 14:1 Then the word of the Lord came unto me, saying,5 Before I formed thee in the belly, I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations. 6 Then said I, Ah, Lord God! behold, I cannot speak: for I am a child, 7 But the Lord said unto me, Say not, I am a child: for thou shalt go to all that I shall send thee, and whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak. 8 Be not afraid of their faces: for I am with thee to deliver thee, saith the Lord. 9 Then the Lord put forth his hand and touched my mouth. And the Lord said unto me, Behold, I have put my words in thy mouth.

What was Jeremiah’s excuse? That he was too young. What was God response? Whether we identify with these specific excuses or not, the message is that any excuse is not enough. I pray that we wouldn't forever make excuses until one day we become excused.

mercy.

Hopefully the short message is clear, if not here is an clear and potent quote to sum it up,

In choosing men and women for His service, God does not ask whether they possess learning or eloquence or worldly wealth. He asks: “Do they walk in such humility that I can teach them My way? Can I put My words into their lips? Will they represent Me?” {7T 144.2} God can use every person just in proportion as He can put His Spirit into the soul-temple. The work that He will accept is the work that reflects His image. His followers are to bear, as their credentials to the world, the ineffaceable characteristics of His immortal principles. {7T 144.3}

God give us Your Spirit that we may boldly proclaim Your word.

IJN,

amen

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