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Crossroads Community Church


The Lord always meets with us when we come with expectant hearts and this morning was no different. After a wonderful week celebrating the joys of music at Fiddleville, we gave God the glory at the Community Church Worship service where all the Shelburne Ministerial churches gathered to Praise the Lord, “Dear God, we give thanks for the gift of music through which we minister to you and you fill our hearts with joy we are grateful that while we were lost you came to rescue us, forgive us for not sharing your Gospel of salvation when we should, empower us now to boldly tell of all that you've done in Jesus name, Amen.”
“Excuses, we have all heard them and possibly even all used them from time to time. It is our attempt to justify and release ourselves from a particular duty by minimizing the severity of the outcome of not following through.” It is nothing new, it dates back to Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, (Genesis 3:8-13.) How easy it is to make excuses and play the age old blame game, it is a human response to avoid responsibility for our actions but God holds us accountable.
Spring forward a few of millennia and we find things haven't changed, Moses also gave a series of excuses when God called him through a burning bush out of the desert to go into Egypt to deliver His chosen people because God heard the cry of His children, (Exodus 3:9-10). Moses should have been excited at the task ahead of him, instead he gave a list of reasons why he couldn't, and shouldn't do it. How do we respond to a similar task? When Jesus asks, “Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit,” Matthew 28:19, are we quick to share His love and invite people to church or do we make excuses? How about with our quiet time with Him praying and reading our Bibles, do we make excuses?
Moses may have been happy about the deliverance of the Jews until God required something of him, Moses felt inadequate, possibly scared so he made excuses, (Exodus 3:11). However in verse 12 God reassured Moses that He would be with him. When Jesus asks us to make disciples of all nations, it may feel overwhelming but Jesus reassures us of His presence too in Matthew 28:20,” Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” We do not go for Him, but He goes with us into whatever situation He calls us. Moses thought he had many legitimate excuses, he did not feel adequate, he knew he was wanted for murder back in Egypt, he felt he had no authority, he thought no one would believe him, and alas he pointed out that he wasn't good with words, (Exodus 3:13, 4:1, 10-11). God understood and at every excuse He had the perfect reassuring answer and God promised all that Moses would need to accomplish the task, “God said I AM that I AM, I give you authority, I will be with You, I will convince people with signs and wonders, I will send Aaron your brother,(Exodus 3:14-17, Exodus 4:8, Exodus 4:16). Even after all of God's reassurances and promises, Moses still pleaded to send someone else.
Beloved God gives strength to those who believe and trust Him, he did so for David against Goliath, because David stood up in faith, God equipped him and gave him victory, (1 Samuel 7:45). He does the same for us today, (Mark 16:17). God is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow and He will not ask us to do anything He will not equip us to do; He has given us all different gifts and talents to accomplish what He wills. He calls us to share the Good News with others, to serve our fellowman in love and to forgive one another for His name's sake. Before returning to His Father, Jesus promised a gift, which is the Holy Spirit, all we need to do is trust Him, be ready and willing to be His lips proclaiming God's love and his arms to receive all who call on the name of the Lord. This week let us get ready to go where ever He asks, He asks us to make disciples of all nations, to love our neighbors as ourselves, so let's start right here, right now in Shelburne our own corner of the world, Asherey Shalom!
To learn more visit www.shelbunrcrossroadschurch.ca
Post date: 2014-08-13 19:56:45
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