What's Your Excuse?
This morning -- my first full Sunday in Kyrgyzstan since I arrived last Sunday -- I preached on Jeremiah 1:4-10. It's the "call" of Jeremiah to be a prophet, a Divine spokesman, to the people of God. Even though God assures Jeremiah that He knows precisely who He is calling ("Before you were in the womb, I knew you" chap 1, vs. 5), Jeremiah has his ready response: "I don't know how to speak. I am only a child." Jeremiah seems to have two excuses why he should not be the one to respond to God's call. The first excuse is about ability, "I don't know how to speak." The second excuse is about the qualifications, specifically age restrictions, on the call. You gotta love these excuses!
How many times do we hear excuses in the Scripture? Abraham and Sarah think they are too old to have a son. Moses says he's got a speech impediment and suggests that God use Aaron instead. Ezekiel becomes bitter and angry, and is immobilized after receiving God's call (Ezek. 2:14-15).
Few are the people who, like Isaiah, say, "Here I am! Send me!" (Is. 6). Isaiah offered no excuse. He didn't debate, nor take time for deliberation, no delay, nor discussion. Just, "Send me!"
When I got the call to deploy with the military, there were many excuses why I shouldn't deploy -- St. Paul is turning the corner and setting a new course in its ministry, school, and childcare. My wife is still adjusting to life in South Texas. My son is young and needs his Dad, even more so in our small family of three. Yet, when I told my wife that I had been called, she didn't offer an excuse. No debate or deliberation. Instead, she said, "You've been in ten years, and this is what you've been trained to do. It's your time to go."
How I wish more people would say that at church! Imagine someone saying this, just as a scenario: "I've spent my whole life in this church. I've served on committees and boards. I was baptized and I've communed. I've got a commitment! WHO better than me to start a new ministry? Who else should teach Sunday School, or start a new mission initiative?" Or perhaps someone would say like Jeremiah, "I'm young. I'm not sure I'm able. But the Lord has called me, and He's promised to work through me. So I will step out to start something in Jesus' name." I pray for those kind of scenarios. I pray that God would send more laborers into His harvest and strip away the excuses -- including my own apathy and weariness. I've seen God do it but, unfortunately, on rare occasion. I pray for it more and more...that people will know God's call and respond like Isaiah, saying "Here am I! Send me!" I pray for people to hear God speaking, like He did to Jeremiah, "I have commanded you."
Jeremiah did finally respond to God's call. He was an effective prophet, although neither popular nor successful. He was faithful, despite his bouts of deep discouragement and disappointment. In the end, he answered the call.