What's Your Excuse
Join Pastor Greg as he continues his series titled "Strange Miracles".
Devotionals from This Message
Five short reflections drawn from this message — Monday through Friday.
The Excuses That Hold Us Back
Tuesday
"Then Jesus said to him, 'Get up! Pick up your mat and walk.' At once the man was cured; he picked up his mat and walked." - John 5:8-9
When Jesus asked the man at Bethesda if he wanted to get well, the man didn't respond with an enthusiastic "Yes!" Instead, he immediately launched into excuses: "I have no one to help me... someone else always gets there first."
How familiar this sounds! When faced with the possibility of transformation, our first instinct is often to explain why change isn't possible. We've become comfortable with our limitations, even as we claim to want freedom from them.
Our excuses come in many forms: "I can't forgive because the hurt was too deep." "I can't move forward because of what they did to me." "I can't change because this is just who I am." These statements might feel true, but they function as barriers to the healing God wants to provide.
Jesus didn't engage with the man's excuses or validate his reasons for remaining in his condition. He simply offered a command: "Get up! Pick up your mat and walk." The miracle wasn't just in the physical healing but in the man's decision to stop explaining why he couldn't be healed and instead respond to Jesus's word with action.
Today, consider what excuses you've been making. What reasons have you been giving—to yourself and others—for why you can't experience healing, forgiveness, or transformation? Jesus stands before you, not interested in your explanations, but inviting you to get up and walk in newfound freedom.
"We're so good at the excuses that we make that we miss out on what God wants to do for us."
Reflect: What is one excuse you've been making that might be preventing you from experiencing God's healing or transformation in your life?
Prayer: Father, forgive me for the times I've chosen my excuses over your power. Help me to recognize when I'm hiding behind explanations rather than stepping out in faith. Give me the courage to respond to your invitation to 'get up and walk' today. I surrender my reasons and rationalizations, choosing instead to trust in your ability to transform my life. Amen.
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