Shelbyville Seventh-day Adventist Church

Excuses began with the first sin ever committed. It's in the Bible, Genesis 3:11-13, NIV. "And He said, …'Have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?' The man said, 'The woman you put here with me—she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it.' Then the Lord God said to the woman, 'What is this you have done?' The woman said, 'The serpent deceived me, and I ate.'"

When confessing sin, don't make excuses. It's in the Bible, James 1:13-15, NIV. "When tempted, no one should say, 'God is tempting me.' For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He tempt anyone; but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed."

Don't look for excuses to get out of your marriage. It's in the Bible, Matthew 5:32, NIV. "But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for marital unfaithfulness, causes her to commit adultery, and anyone who marries a woman so divorced commits adultery."

When God gives direction He expects cooperation not excuses. He will supply whatever is needed. It's in the Bible, Exodus 4:10-12, TLB. "But Moses pleaded, 'O Lord, I’m just not a good speaker. I never have been, and I'm not now, even after you have spoken to me, for I have a speech impediment. 'Who makes mouths?' Jehovah asked him, ‘Isn't it I, the Lord? Who makes a man so that he can speak or not speak, see or not see, hear or not hear? Now go ahead and do as I tell you, for I will help you to speak well, and I will tell you what to say.'"

We are not to make excuses to avoid responding to God's invitation. It's in the Bible, Luke 14:15-24, TLB. "Hearing this, a man sitting at the table with Jesus exclaimed, 'What a privilege it would be to get into the Kingdom of God!' Jesus replied with this illustration: 'A man prepared a great feast and sent out many invitations. When all was ready, he sent his servant around to notify the guests that it was time for them to arrive. But they all began making excuses. One said he had just bought a field and wanted to inspect it, and asked to be excused. Another said he had just bought five pair of oxen and wanted to try them out. Another had just been married and for that reason couldn't come. The servant returned and reported to his master what they had said. His master was angry and told him to go quickly into the streets and alleys of the city and to invite …anyone you find to come, so that the house will be full. For none of those I invited first will get even the smallest taste of what I had prepared for them."