Battling Excuses

How many times have we made excuses before? Think about it. It is 6:00 am and the alarm is going off and we may have some personal days and we wake up and we decide that we do not want to go to work. We call up work and either say that we are using a personal day or sadly sometimes use the fake cough routine and decide to try and persuade their boss they are not able to make it.
Think about this again. It is 8:00 am and the alarm is going off on Sunday. Again it is one of those days that we just don’t feel like coming to services. Sometimes and it is sad to see that people will call and do the fake cough routine to get out of going to services. Or they come up with another excuse to try and persuade someone that they are not able to make it?
Do we see a problem? The real problem is that we are giving an excuse to God for not gathering with our brethren.
Many people today face the battles everyday of excuses. People try to come up with any and every excuse to get out of many things and sadly one of them is worship service at any time. When people come up with an excuse what they are really saying is that I don’t want to come or, I don’t care. It is a hard a difficult battle that people face once they do it for the first time. Once one it happens once guilt is no longer present as much and we don’t feel see any problem with it. It becomes easier and easier to do and come up with something.
Some may ask the question of what are we truly neglecting? Consider with me over in Hebrews 10:25 where the problem lies. The problem is when we neglect the assembling of ourselves together. It isn’t just a Sunday morning. What about Sunday evening or even Wednesday evening? Are these not as important? Are or are we not gathering together to learn more about God.
Brethren need each other constantly. Consider again with me this time in Romans 12:15 and Galatians 6:2. Ask a question “how can I encourage you or you encourage me if we are making excuses of not coming?” I need encouragement as much as you do. It is hard to give and receive encouragement when we do not see each other. In order for to be there for our brethren we need to be able to see them.
Then another battle that we face today is the battle of excuses when it comes to obeying God. Have we heard one of these statements before:

“God’s way is impossible”
“I am too much of a sinner”
“I have to give up too much”
“I am just not ready”

When we hear things like this what is really coming out is that “God isn’t that important.”Is the way of God a burden for us to follow? (I John 5:3) Why is it then that we try to use an excuse of God’s way is impossible. If the ways of God isn’t a burden then it isn’t impossible. Notice what Jesus says in Matthew 7:14 (ESV). Jesus says it is a hard way. It isn’t that is impossible to follow. We are able to just takes dedication and the rewards are eternal and we will be considered blessed.
Then when we look at another excuse of giving up many things one thing that comes to mind is our friends. The thought is that because I am a Christian I have to give up friends. What is our brethren? Can they not also be our friends? What does evil company do to us (I Corinthians 15:33)? Our good habits that we have can become sinful habits. Evil company does corrupt the good habits. Influence plays a huge role in our lives and those that surround ourselves with does play an impact in our lives. Ask a question: are the ones that are involved in my life hindering or helping my service to God?
Battling excuses are an everyday battle. We must overcome then every day. When we start to think about reasons to not come or not obey look to God for guidance. Ask a question “can I give an excuse to God to enter eternal life?”
When it come to excuses overcome them don’t give in. An excuse is a way that we say we don’t care. It is really pure neglect when we decide to give an excuse for not doing the things that God expects for us.
How will we be remembered?

MEMORY VERSE: II TIMOTHY 3:16-17
All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

~DANIEL~