Excuses (July 24)

"Ah, Sovereign Lord," I said, "I do not know how to speak; I am only a child."
                                       Jeremiah 1:6 NIV

An excuse is what we read as we meet Jeremiah, the weeping or reluctant prophet, today.  The excuses Jeremiah uses to try to avoid the Lord's call are resting firmly on his ability to speak, his age, and immaturity.  Jeremiah probably felt ill equipped to carry out the ministry of a prophet.  

One can consider the array of excuses Moses used when he met God and was told by God of the plan for the exodus from Egypt to the promised land.  Recollect Moses' statement that he was not eloquent and was slow of speech and tongue (Exodus 4).

We can be thankful that we are given the Spirit who helps us in our weakness.  We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express (Romans 8:26 NIV).

What kind of excuses do you use when called for a special service?

Have you ever been called by God for a service and felt ill equipped?

How did you respond?  How did it go?  

Pray for eyes, ears, heart and minds wide open to perceive the Spirit's call and guidance.

In Christ,

David P