Break Free From Excuses

Jeremiah 1:4–10 NASB95

Now the word of the Lord came to me saying, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, And before you were born I consecrated you; I have appointed you a prophet to the nations.” Then I said, “Alas, Lord God! Behold, I do not know how to speak, Because I am a youth.” But the Lord said to me, “Do not say, ‘I am a youth,’ Because everywhere I send you, you shall go, And all that I command you, you shall speak. “Do not be afraid of them, For I am with you to deliver you,” declares the Lord. Then the Lord stretched out His hand and touched my mouth, and the Lord said to me, “Behold, I have put My words in your mouth. “See, I have appointed you this day over the nations and over the kingdoms, To pluck up and to break down, To destroy and to overthrow, To build and to plant.”

GOD has given each of us an assignment

But we often make excuses

GOD want us to stop making excuses

GOD give us assurance for the real problem

As you

GOD has given each of us an assignment

This passage is Jeremiah recalling his experience when GOD directly called him. By call, it means when GOD communicated his purposes and commissioned Jeremiah to carry out his purpose for his life. This call from GOD was from his eternal purposes. Notice the first two declarations from GOD, I knew you, I consecrated (or set you apart). GOD says before I began the process of shaping you in your mother’s womb, I was thinking about you and the relationship with you to choose you. Before you broke the womb, I set you apart for a specific service. I had already assigned you to be my spokesman to the nations of your day.

Application: There are different types and contexts for calling in scripture. If we are in Christ, we have all responded to God’s call or invitation to salvation, and to live obediently to Christ and the Father. Within that, GOD has given all his children assignments. That doesn’t mean we wait for a direct communication such as Jeremiah and other prophets, those were unique. However, because we’re in Christ, we all have assignments according to the gifts GOD has given us, and they all function to further the redemptive purpose of GOD. Which is to manifest Christ through love and service to others, and share our hope and faith in Christ, to summarize. And GOD had you in mind in eternity, he was thinking about how he made you specifically to fulfill his purpose in another’s life.

But we often make excuses

Now for Jeremiah, his assignment was to be a public spokesman for, a prophet and a man of GOD. Jeremiah remembers it vividly. He really started thinking about what it meant to speak for GOD, and he did what many have done, he started making excuses. Understand, excuses are explanations one gives to escape the responsibility of doing something. In other words, Jeremiah was trying to get out of this. He said, “GOD, LOOK AT ME!!!” Look at who I am GOD. Perhaps you haven’t noticed that I completely without the skill or ability of public speaking. And it’s all based on the fact that my cultural generation knows that I’m too young for that.

Application: If we are honest with ourselves and GOD, we too have been just like Jeremiah. GOD, I don’t know how to do that! I don’t have the resources! I don’t have the skills! I don’t know enough! Let’s be honest with ourselves. These are escapes from action and challenging ourselves to learn, and they ultimately hold us back from opportunities to develop. This applies to unique gifts and skills, as well as shared ones. Here’s what that would sound like, I don’t know how to: love, be gentle, be humble, be patient, (teach, serve, encourage, or give) etc. Then blame it on, I haven’t been saved long enough. I’m not as mature.

GOD want us to stop making excuses

Well how does GOD take Jeremiah’s excuses? It’s interesting, GOD doesn’t initially respond to his inadequate excuse. He first responds to his immature or “too young” excuse. GOD says “don’t say that”. The aspect of “say” means GOD wants him to not say it so it doesn’t have ongoing results in his life. Instead, realize wherever and whatever I command, that’s what you need to focus on.

Application: This is one of the first steps to breaking free from any excuse, stop saying it!! We have learned even from recent news, where the president has repeatedly made certain statements and it has had ongoing and devastating results in the minds of many people because they’ve bought into it. That’s what can happen to us if we keep saying I’m not old enough, a new convert, haven’t done it long enough. I’m not talking about what others say about us, I’m talking about what we say about ourselves in regard to the assigned duties we have in the Kingdom of GOD. And we are the Kingdom no matter where we show up, thus whatever GOD has called me to do, that’s what I’m gone focus on!!

GOD give us assurance for the real problem

Then GOD reveals the truth of the matter. It’s not really about Jeremiah’s youth or inadequacies. The real problem is that he knows what comes with the territory of speaking for GOD. Over and over the scriptures depict the dangers of being a prophet. Even Jesus said, Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city who kills the prophets!! GOD knows this, so he tells him don’t be scared of THEM!! Because I will protect you. And as for your inadequacies, let me put my words in your mouth, let me inspire you with my Holy Spirit!!!

Application: Listen, the underlying issue of our excuses of inadequacy and our chronological unfitness is fear of something. What’s the anectdote? GOD’s assurance that he’s always with us to protect us!! Furthermore, whatever GOD assigns for us, we can be sure he will equip us to do!

As you move in 2021, with all that GOD has assigned for your life, don’t let excuses mask your fear, and paralyze and hold you back from serving in the capacity and purpose for which you have been called! Make up our minds today that we are going to break free from the chains of excuses that cause us to protest what GOD wants us to do. How? I’m gone stop feeding my own mind by saying it. I am going to trust that GOD’s presence is with me, to protect me and equip me for what he has assigned to me!! Amen!!