The Excuses

Jesus called to them, "Come, follow me, and I will show you how to fish for people!  And then left their nets at once and followed him.  A little farther up the shore he saw two other brothers... and he called them to come, too.  They immediately followed him, leaving the boat and their father behind. -Matthew 4:19-22

As I read this tonight, I couldn't help but wonder, where are the excuses of these men?  The first ones left their nets, the second ones left their boat and father, and with no excuses, they just followed Jesus.  Nobody really even knew who Jesus was yet.  He was not a rock-star, they hadn't seen him on TV, and he wasn't on a poster on thier bedroom walls.  There was simply Jesus, a compelling man, and a reaction inside of them that propelled them to go.  I think it is pretty amazing that these men have any other response besides obedience.  They could have said, "Ok, man, let me finish this catch, and I'll be right over," or, "No thank you, I only fish for, um, fish.  People aren't really my thing."  There are all kinds of responses to what seems like a ludicrous command.  But no, these men, with very little knowledge of what they were stepping into, followed Jesus and dropped everything they had to live for.

Tonight, I felt the need to get with God.  I knew that I needed his refreshing Word and I have been really busy lately, and haven't just sat down and put everything aside for as long as I feel I should until we have spent time together.  I have some really good excuses, too!  I am putting together a gift for my fiance's birthday.  I am working on a scrapbook.  I'm working out all of the time to lose weight for my wedding day.  I'm working on planning a wedding.  I'm working, period.  My days are full.  But, man, I get it all wrong sometimes.  My excuses are not only selfish, but in themselves, they're not even worth it.  I don't give God what he deserves... definitely not my excuses.  And really, our relationship is so much better without them.