January 6 No Excuses, Period! Jeremiah 1:7-8
Good morning from Pastor Glen Brock, Baptist Tabernacle Church, Wendell, North Carolina… “But the Lord said to me: ‘Do not say, ‘I am a youth,’ For you shall go to all to whom I send you, And whatever I command you, you shall speak. 8 Do not be afraid of their faces, For I am with you to deliver you,” says the Lord.” (Jeremiah 1:7-8)
Imagine the reaction of young Jeremiah when he was given a huge job as a prophet to the nations of the world and that he would be the instrument that would herald the message of God to these nations! Jeremiah had to be frightened. On a personal note, when I felt the Call to Ministry, I was afraid, and I started making excuses for not being obedient and for not directly answering His Call on my life. Jeremiah had to be thinking the same things that I was thinking: What will my friends think? How am I going to do this thing? Just before my Daddy died, he reminded me of a true and living fact! He said to me, “Son, make all of the excuses that you desire and come up with all of the reasons not to answer the Call, however, He has Called you and you will ultimately comply! He has Called you, so He will prepare you … I may not be here to see it with these eyes, but I see it in my heart!” At that moment, I began to recognize this fact … No Excuses, Just Do It! I began to study His word with a renewed passion, and I began to accept more “Fill-in” calls from Pastor’s, all around Eastern & Central North Carolina. This was preparation time for me! Jeremiah had to overcome his fears and to depend on God’s Empowerment! What I have learned, is that God knows that we will face challenges and that our strength to overcome is found in pressing on with God in absolute control! The Lord told Jeremiah, in the last verse of this chapter, that the people would fight against him, but not to worry! Why not worry? Four simple, yet powerful words; that are true, for us today! “I AM WITH YOU!” Whatever you are facing, whatever challenges you are dealing with, whatever difficulties you are experiencing … God has Promised that HE would be with you and that HE will face it with you! NO EXCUSES!! I pray that God will cause you to take your eyes off of the circumstances and cause you to place your eyes on the Cross and our Promised VICTORY through the Blood of Jesus Christ! Stay Strong, Stay Focused… THE BEST IS YET TO BE!