I shared this list with the great folks at Central last night. These are excuses that parents supposedly wrote to their children’s school.

• My son is under a doctor’s care and shouldn’t take PE today. Please execute him.
• Amy did not do her homework last night because we went out to a party and did not get home until late. If she is tired, please let her sleep during recess time.
• Diane was late on Wednesday. She fell asleep on the bus and was taken back to the bus yard.
• Please excuse my son from being absent yesterday, because there is a river in our house.
• Henry stayed home because he had a stomach ache from eating too much frosting.
• Please excuse Lisa for being absent. She was sick, so I had her shot.
• Cody was absent yesterday because we were out bowling until 2 AM.
• It was my fault Mike did not do his math homework last night. His pencil broke and we do not have a pencil sharpener at home.
• Tommy wasn’t in school yesterday because he thought it was Saturday.
• Jerry was at his grandmother’s yesterday, and she did not bring him to school because Jerry couldn’t remember where the school was.
• Please excuse my son. He will be out next week slaughtering goats for his manhood ritual. Thank you!
• Ronnie would not finish his work last night. He said his brain was too tired of spelling.
• I kept Billie home because she had to go Christmas shopping because I don’t know what size she wears.
• Please excuse Jennifer for missing school yesterday. We forgot to get the Sunday paper off the porch and when we found it Monday, we thought it was Sunday.
• Sally won’t be in school a week from Friday. We have to attend her funeral.
• Eric hurt his knee in a karate tournament over the weekend. He won his age group, but was in too much pain to do his math assignment.

We are studying through the Bible together as a spiritual family. Last week we read about Moses and his initial encounter with God. Moses offers excuses not to serve God:

1. Who am I? – Exodus 3:11
2. What shall I say? – Exodus 3:13
3. What if they do not believe me? – Exodus 4:1
4. I am not eloquent, I am a slow talker, and not great with words. – Exodus 4:10
5. Finally, Moses gets to the real issue, “Please send someone else.” – Exodus 4:13

Before we judge Moses too harshly, don’t we make the same excuses?

We don’t think we are important enough for people to listen to us. Paul says, “Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God, who has made us sufficient to be ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.” (2 Corinthians 3:5-6). 

We are unsure of what to say. Paul tells us what he said, “Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures,” (1 Corinthians 15:1-4).

We don’t think people will believe us. John would tell us it is not us they have to believe, “Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.” (John 20:30-31).

We are afraid to speak to others.  We do not think we are talented enough. Paul claimed no talent, “And I, when I came to you, brothers, did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom. For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.” (1 Corinthians 2:1-2).

God calls us to proclaim the message of Christ (1 Peter 2:9). What is our excuse for not going and sharing?

– Scott