No Excuses

Acts 9:1-2 Then Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest 2 and asked letters from him to the synagogues of Damascus, so that if he found any who were of the Way, whether men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.

How many of us has Satan won a great battle with a lie of deception? How many of us has he convinced that we cannot be used by God because of the sins in our lives? How has he convinced us that we can’t follow the tugs on our hearts for discipleship, because we listen to the lie of our past? The is a great difference in the understanding of our sin, and Jesus’ ability to forgive our sins, past, present, and future. God has let you go down every path in your life, many times those paths he uses for good and to draw others to Himself through your testimony. When Satan comes at you with accusations, God through his Spirit will use that conviction to draw you closer to Himself through prayer and his Word. Satan’s plans backfire when you don’t flee because of those memories or current struggles, you pursue God with a vigor and renewed strength. God used one of the most vigilant persecutors of Jesus’ followers, to becoming on of the greatest apostles and writers of the New Testament. Paul went from killing the church to leading the church.

I always think of this list in the Bible of those the world called failures, and God called his disciples. God can use you too!

Noah was a drunk! (Genesis 9:21)
Abraham thought he was too old! (Genesis 17:17)
Isaac was a liar, just like his Dad! (Genesis 26:7, 20:2)
Jacob was a liar & a schemer! (Genesis 27:19 and many more!)
Leah was plain (ugly?)! (Genesis 29:17)
Joseph was abused! (Genesis 37:18f and many more!)
Moses had a speach problem! (Exodus 4:10)
Gideon was afraid! (Judges 6:27)
Samson had long hair and was a womanizer! (Judges 16:17, 14:2, 16:1)
Rahab was a prostitute! (Joshua 2:1, 6:17)
Jeremiah and Timothy were too young! (Jeremiah 1:6, 1 Timothy 4:12)
David was an adulterer and a murderer! (2 Samuel 12:9)
Elijah was suicidal! (1 Kings 19:4)
Isaiah preached naked! (Isaiah 20:2-3)
Jonah ran from God! (Jonah 1:3)
Naomi was a bitter widow! (Ruth 1:20)
Job went bankrupt! (Job 1:13-19)
Peter denied Christ! (Matthew 26:69-74)
The Disciples fell asleep while praying! (Matthew 26:40-43)
Martha worried about everything! (Luke 10:40-41)
The Samaritan woman was divorced, more than once! (John 4:18)
Zaccheus was too small! (Luke 19:3)
Paul was too religious! (Philippians 3:4-6)
Timothy had an ulcer! (1 Timothy 5:23)
*AND*
Lazarus was dead! (John 11:1-44)