Excuses, Excuses
Notes
Transcript
Opening Illustration: Andre and Magda Trocme and Le Chambon
What’s my Calling?
What’s my Calling?
Post-its and a discernment workshop
2 key questions:
Who am I called to be?
What am I called to do?
Recap of 3 points from yesterday
We looked at the shocking turn of events in Job’s life
and were reminded of 3 things from Eliphaz’ speech to job
We can’t do it on our own
God is in control
God’s ways are beyond our comprehension
We also learned our theme verse:
He performs wonders that cannot be fathomed, miracles that cannot be counted.
This morning during devotions you read the story of Moses’ calling
We’re going to look at that a little more tonight
It begins with God’s Invitation
Which often leads to Our Excuses
And God reminding us of His Grace and Power
God’s Invitation
God’s Invitation
The burning bush (didn’t see that coming)
Moses! Go back to Egypt and talk to Pharaoh for me (nope, not that either)
Sometimes, God calls his people to do crazy and outlandish things
Noah (build a boat in the middle of the desert) (Gen 6:12–20)
Abram/Abraham (leave evrything you know behind and go where I tell you, but I won’t tell you where you need to go when you get there) (Gen 12:1–3)
Hosea (marry a promiscuous woman) (Hos 1:2–9)
Ezekiel (cook with human feces) (Ezek 4:9–15)
All of the time, God calls his people to be faithful
And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
And when we are being faithful …
Sometimes, God calls us to do things that take us outside of our comfort zone
Anyone have a story to share of God taking them outside their comfort zone today?
But the word choice on this point is intentional: INVITATION
God doesn’t coerce us
He doesn’t take away all other options
He invites us
Kind of like the invitation to our own surprise party
The friend is pretty insistent
We’re usually glad that we went
Our Excuses
Our Excuses
Moses’ excuse: “I don’t speak no good”
Moses is not the only one to make excuses:
Gideon - I’m too weak (Jdg 6:13-16; 36-40)
Jeremiah - I’m too young (Jer 1:4–6)
Jonah - I don’t want to; Assyria are my/your enemies! (Jonah 1:1–3; 4:1–5)
Random men called to follow Jesus - I have family obligations (Luke 9:59-62)
We can make all kinds of excuses:
I’m too weak; too young; too small; too busy; too important; too …
I’m not very good at that; I don’t know what I’m doing
Illustration: “I don’t belong … at youth group … at Briercrest … in the CRC”
I don’t have enough faith, money, influence, etc.
God’s response: “Uh-huh, and?”
And even then, once we accept the invitation
The first sign of trouble and we want to bolt
Or, in Paul’s case, we need reminders of who’s actually in control
God’s Grace and Power
God’s Grace and Power
But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
God’s GRACE is SUFFICIENT
God’s POWER is PERFECTED in our weakness
Paul’s response: brag about my weaknesses and rejoice in my sufferings
Not in general, but in a way that gives all the glory to God
We can’t do it on our own, but through “Christ who gives me strength” we can
The initial surprise comes in the call / invitation
The bigger surprise is that God gives us everything we need to accept it
God doesn’t call the equipped, he equips the called
Maybe you’re feeling like you don’t belong
Or you’d rather be at home / working / on the beach, etc.
Be open to what God will do, and ask him to reveal his grace and power in and through you
The Trocmes weren’t looking for fame or recognition
To this day their story is little known
But their simple acts of obedience and kindness will not be forgotten
Oftentimes, all it takes is that first little step of faith to see what God will do
