Make Today Count

I saw a really funny post from a teacher today. He hung a
note on his computer and told his students that it was the last day of the
quarter and he no longer was taking late assignments. The responsibility was
theirs and they should do the work when He gives them the opportunity.
Basically, no excuses for your grade, you had the chance.  Now it is too late.

Often times in our society we want extra chances. We don’t
want there to be consequences for what we do. We, as parents, are constantly
make excuses for our children and their behavior and everyone is a superstar no
matter how average they are.

We don’t leave room for failure. We only leave room for
excuses.

I have learned the greatest things in my life while facing
my own failures. You can read one way Christ revealed Himself to me through
some of my most shameful moments in “Who Will Bear My Shame in Part 1, Part 2,
and Part 3”

I don’t want my kids to fail. I don’t want them to fall. But
I know deep down in my heart it will lead them to growth both emotionally and
spiritually.

At this time of year we are facing down Calvary’s road right
at the cross. Overall, the cross looked like a well laid out plan that completely
failed.

On Palm Sunday everyone was parading Christ in singing
Hosanna! Praise God! Here is our Savior!  By late Thursday early Friday they had
completely turned on Him. We want answers. We want a Superstar. They began
making excuses for following the crowd and denying who He was. They wanted one
more miracle, one more sign, just one more.

Apparently, all He had done to this point to prove who He
was, was not enough.  Show us and show us
now or you are a failure. Even His disciples temporarily questioned who He was.
As if all they had seen was not enough. I would clearly think from them, there
would be no excuses. They saw it. They witnessed it. Yet here they were denying
Him, betraying Him, doubting Him.

Doubt, denial, betrayal.  Character flaws that are quick and easy for us
to judge. But Jesus tells us we are to take up our crosses daily, which means
He knows that we are going to fill our lives with excuses. It also means that
it is a constant work.  We too, sometimes
daily, deny, doubt, and betray our “King.”

We are surrounded by His goodness, grace, and mercy, yet we
are always looking for one more sign, one more miracle.  Then we will believe, and then we will follow.

As Jesus stood before the high council they said to Him, “Tell
us, are you the Messiah?” But He replied, “If I tell you, you won’t believe me.
And if I ask you a question, you won’t answer. But from now on the Son of Man
will be seated in the place of power at God’s right hand.” Luke 23:67-69

The leading priests, the teachers of religious law were
staring God in the face and they couldn’t see Him and they were making excuses.
 Jesus even said to them, it doesn’t
matter what I tell you, it doesn’t matter what I do to prove myself to you, you
won’t believe.

Are you tired of making excuses? Are you tired of trying to
find ways for Christ to prove Himself to you?

As you stand on the road to the cross this Easter season, don’t
wait one more minute. Don’t come to the cross with your excuses. Come to the
cross with your open heart. Lay down all that you have at the feet of Jesus.

If you are already a believer in Christ, He is waiting to do
His work in you. We are to serve him with passion and desire to further His
purposes and to further His kingdom. Are you diligently seeking and serving
your Lord or are you daily making excuses about how busy you are and filling
your life with much more of you?

If you have not ever made the decision to call Jesus Lord of
your life, don’t wait another minute.

Philippians 2:9-11 tells us, Therefore, God elevated Him to
the place of highest honor and gave Him the name above all other names, that at
the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the
earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the Glory of God
the Father.

A well laid out plan that failed, NO WAY! He has been
exalted to a place of highest honor. He has been given the name above all other
names. To Him, Every knee will bow. A well laid out plan was perfectly executed
for you and me.  

Friends, there will be a day when no more excuses will be
able to be made. We will get to the final quarter, we will get to the day when
all grades will need to be turned in. Paul tells us in Philippians that on that
day EVERY knee will bow, EVERY tongue will confess, Jesus Christ as Lord.

On that day, No more excuses will be able to be made. As you
stand at the crossroad facing the cross please don’t miss your opportunity to
make the choice to follow Him. Make it today so that you can someday stand confidently
before Jesus and call Him Lord.