You Say… But God Says…

Exodus 3:10-4:17

Rev. Walter M. Bosman Jr. ©2006

We human being are really very good at making excuses.

The young child says, “I don’t have my homework today, teacher, because my dog ate it just before I left home this morning and I didn’t have time to do it over.”
Then we progress to the teen years; “I just couldn’t clean my room today Mom, because I had to go play ball with my friends, then do my homework from school (you know they give us way too much), then I had to eat dinner, take a shower and get ready for bed.”
Finally, we become adults; “I don’t have that report for you this morning, boss, because… my dog ate it just before I left the house this morning and I didn’t have enough time to do it over.”

This propensity for excuse making isn’t a new phenomenon either. Even the great man, Moses, fell prey to “excuse-itis”. God Himself took time out from His very busy schedule to appear in person to Moses in a burning bush to tell him that He wanted Moses to lead His people out of Egypt to freedom. Just look at all the excuses Moses makes in Exodus 3:10-4:17.

Now, before we come down too hard on Moses we need to think about the many, many excuses we Christians come up with when God asks, tells, or even commands us to do something that, when it comes down to it, we just don’t feel like doing. Let’s take a look at some, “You say…, but God says…” situations.

You say: “It’s impossible!”
But God says: “All things are possible.”

You say: “I’m too tired!”
But God says: “I will give you rest.”

You say: “Nobody really loves me.”
But God says: “I love you!”

You say: “I can’t go on!”
But God says: “My grace is sufficient!”

You say: “I can’t figure things out.”
But God says: “I will direct your steps!”

You say: “I can’t do it!”
But God says: “You can do all things through Christ!”

You say: “I’m not able!”
But God says: “I Am able!”

You say: “It’s not worth it!”
But God says: “It will be worth it!”

You say: “I can’t forgive myself!”
But God says: “I forgive you!”

You say: “I can’t manage!”
But God says: “I will supply all your needs!”

You say: “I’m afraid!”
But God says: “I have not given you a spirit of fear!”

You say: “I’m always worried and frustrated!
But God says: “Cast all your cares on Me!”

You say: “I’m not smart enough!”
But God says: “I give you wisdom.”

You say: “I can’t afford it!”
But God says: “I own the cattle on 1000 hills!”

You say: “I’m all alone!”
But God says: “I will never leave you nor forsake you!”

We Christians have got to stop making excuses! We need to decide whether we trust God or we do not! We need to quit relying on what we think we can or cannot do, and start putting our faith in what God can do!

We really need to ingrain in our hearts and minds that when God asks, tells or commands us to do something, He will not leave us hanging out to dry. Rather, God will provide for us and through us anything and everything necessary to accomplish the task.

If it is strength, He will provide for it.
If it is energy, He will provide for it.
If it is money, He will provide for it.

Far, far too many individuals and whole congregations fail to believe in that promise from God. The result is that they become very complacent with where they are in their growth, both physical growth and spiritual growth. Those individuals and churches then become fearful of anything new, different or especially risky. So instead of reaching out and letting their light shine brightly for Christ, they hide their light under a basket. We need to understand this. Any individual, business, congregation or church that is not growing and moving forward IS DYING! You don’t stand still. You grind to a stop, begin falling backwards, and eventually die!

It unfortunately happens all the time. A person or a church that does not continue to grow physically will physically die. Likewise, a person or church that does not continue to grow spiritually, will spiritually die.

When a person or church gets to the point where they are so content with their physical growth, spiritual growth, or both, that they stop doing those things that helped them to grow to that point, stagnation will set in. Then they will begin moving backwards and they will die.

I can tell you of a small church not far from here that had grown to a reasonable amount of attendees for Sunday morning services. The people became content with the size of the congregation and the spiritual growth that had begun. They were so happy in fact that they lost all vision for the future. They stopped reaching out to those around them. They stopped seeking any kind of growth, physical or spiritual. The predictable result occurred and now, less than four years later, they have ceased to be a church with any impact on the work of God. Go there today and you will find 8 to 10 people, no pastor, no vision, no joy. It is a dead church with dead people who just haven’t stopped breathing and fallen over yet.

Unfortunately, this can happen to any church, large or small, when the vision dies and it tries to exist on a status quo basis.

No Vision = No Action = No Growth = Death

We say, “We can’t, we can’t, we can’t!” But God says, “You can, you can, you can! Because, I can, I can I can!”

May we truly place all of our trust and faith in the “One who owns a cattle on a thousand hills.” For there is nothing that He cannot do through us that He wants done. God does not care one lick about our ability. He cares only about our availability! May we always remain available to be used by God. Amen!