Avoidance Excuses of Our False Self.
Good Morning Friends,
Looking for the perfect “white lie” or excuse to get out of a sticky situation with God. Well don’t. It may work with others for a time but not with God. God will not reinforce you for lying. God will not distort your memories to the point you actually believe the lie. The devil is quite good at that. You see God is not interested in protecting your positive sense of identity and all our mental contortions of twisted facts and self-serving biases. He knows we hold in our hands the things to be used to carry out heavenly purposes. They are God’s to claim and use. But we often say things like I’m not this or I don’t do that or I don’t have this…and most of the time these are just Avoidance Excuses of Our False Self.
Scripture: Moses said to the Lord, “Pardon your servant, Lord. I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor since you have spoken to your servant. I am slow of speech and tongue.” The Lord said to him, “Who gave human beings their mouths? Who makes them deaf or mute? Who gives them sight or makes them blind? Is it not I, the Lord? Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say.”
Exodus 4:10-12 (NIV)
But speaking the truth in love, we must grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ,
Ephesians 4:15 (NRSV)
Message: Moses had lots of excuses. He told God he was not qualified. He then told God that he did not know enough. Not all excuses are bad. They can be valid and reasonable if our intentions and motives are pure, and if they’re genuinely based upon truth, but all too often they are illegitimate. The thing is that our friend Jesus does not need them and his enemies will not believe them. Ask a minister. Ask a politician. Still we lie. Everybody lies. We cannot help ourselves. And let’s face it, most of the time our excuses are lies. And these lies keep us from achieving maximum fulfillment. They are a gamble that is really just another form of addiction. They might save us time but more often than not they are incredible roadblocks that inhibit our relational depth with God and with others. So what is God calling you to do? What excuse can you replace with a faith-based action? God has an awesome mission for you and all your limitations do not matter for it is not about you alone. It is about redemption and if God is for us, all we really have to do to begin the journey is to say, “Yes!”
Pray we not shortchange ourselves. Pray we tap into our true potential. Pray we accept our real self, flaws and all. Pray we have fewer reasons to lie. Pray we stop making excuses in fear of failure that just leads to failure. Pray we look for excuses to succeed with God. Pray we realize that the only thing that may be keeping us from doing the right thing is the lie we keep telling ourselves. Pray we grow up in Christ. Pray we know who is really leading us. Pray we speak the truth in love.
Blessings,
John Lawson
Daily Devotionals 