No Excuses, Only Obedience
Take 2-3 minutes to quiet yourself and ask God to speak to you today through your devotional time.
Reading: James 2:14-26
Be sure to highlight or note anything that stands out to you while you read.
After reading the passage, take the next 5-10 minutes and spend time reflecting on what you read. You can write these things down in a journal or record them in your phone. Be attentive to both what you highlighted in the passage and what is going on in your life.
We are masterful at creating excuses for why we can't serve: "They don't deserve it," "I'm too busy," "I'm not qualified," "I'm hurting too much." But serving isn't optional for followers of Jesus—it's commanded. God has strategically placed you in your family, workplace, neighborhood, and church to be His hands and feet. Your skill level has never been a prerequisite for God's service; your availability is what matters. If you're hurting, the body should help you, but even in healing, you have something to offer. If you're too busy, you've made an idol of your schedule. Faith without works is dead, and obedience without action is merely agreement. Today, examine your excuses honestly before God. What is the real reason you're not serving? Ask Him to give you the courage to move past it.
Now, take 10 minutes to seek God in prayer…
Faith Steps:
Reading: James 2:14-26
Be sure to highlight or note anything that stands out to you while you read.
After reading the passage, take the next 5-10 minutes and spend time reflecting on what you read. You can write these things down in a journal or record them in your phone. Be attentive to both what you highlighted in the passage and what is going on in your life.
We are masterful at creating excuses for why we can't serve: "They don't deserve it," "I'm too busy," "I'm not qualified," "I'm hurting too much." But serving isn't optional for followers of Jesus—it's commanded. God has strategically placed you in your family, workplace, neighborhood, and church to be His hands and feet. Your skill level has never been a prerequisite for God's service; your availability is what matters. If you're hurting, the body should help you, but even in healing, you have something to offer. If you're too busy, you've made an idol of your schedule. Faith without works is dead, and obedience without action is merely agreement. Today, examine your excuses honestly before God. What is the real reason you're not serving? Ask Him to give you the courage to move past it.
Now, take 10 minutes to seek God in prayer…
- Begin your time in prayer by taking 1-3 minutes to sit in silence (You can take longer if you sense the Spirit already beginning to speak to you).
- Pray through the things you sensed God speaking to you through the Scriptures or pray the following prayer: “Father, reveal the excuses I’ve been hiding behind. Replace hesitation with obedience. Give me courage to move from agreement to action.”
- Close by taking 5 minutes to sit in silence, asking God if there is anything else He wants to speak to you today.
Faith Steps:
- Write down your biggest excuse for not serving. Pray over it—and then take one small step that directly challenges it.
- Offer your availability to God today by praying, “Here I am. Send me,” and mean it.
Recent
Archive
2026
January
Don’t Stop Short of JesusThe Cross Is God’s Invitation to YouRemembering the OwnerThe OwnerThe Illusion of Self-Made SuccessActs 26:12–23 | Paul’s Encounter with JesusActs 26: 1–11 | Agrippa Grants PermissionInvited From The OutsideSurrender Creates PeaceWhen Blessing Becomes ForgetfulnessWhat A Pastor Means When They Say... | The Branch Living as Stewards, Not OwnersCreated for RelationshipThe Heart Behind the GiftSurrender GainsThe StewardFaithful StewardsOne Percent BetterEverything Belongs to GodThe Evaluation Is ComingActs 26:24-32 | Agrippa Parries Paul's ChallengeRedefining Success | The Branch The EvaluationHow You View God Determines EverythingThe Economy of Kingdom InvestmentChoose Your Category WiselyAnchored in Steadfast LoveActs 27:1-3 | Paul Sails for RomeDiscerning Between Good And Evil | The BranchLoved Enough to Be DisciplinedThe Steadfast Love of GodReturning to God’s WayCrying Out from the DepthsLiving with Wise Awareness
February
Partnering with God’s MissionBuilding Kingdom FruitTHE GIVER | PASTOR ANTHONY LOMBARDIWorship Through SacrificeNavigating God's Calling Within MarriageTrusting God’s ProvisionActs 27: 13-20 | The Storm at Sea | TCBSActs 27: 4-12 | From Caesarea to Fair HavensFrom Self-Focus to Kingdom-FocusFrom Death to LifeThe Answer Is a PersonEmpowered for MissionActs 27:21–26 | TCBSTHE CHURCH | PASTOR MATTHEW JOHNSONDesigned for CommunityAnger, Justice and Psalms of Judgment | The BranchHeaven Invading EarthBetter Together PURPOSED RELATIONSHIPS | PASTOR MATTHEW JOHNSONLifted When You FallWarmth in the ColdProtected by the CordWhen to Wait, When to Work | The BranchOne Body, One MissionWhere Your Treasure IsThe Antidote to AnxietyINVEST HEARTS AND FINANCES | PASTOR MATTHEW JOHNSONReturn to MeActs 27: 39-44 | The Shipwreck | TCBSTreasures That LastThe Heaps of Hezekiah
March
The Good News We Cannot Keep Silent EVANGELISM | PASTOR MARY JOHNSONEncountering Jesus Changes EverythingLove Compels Us to ShareActs 28:1-6 | Paul Ashore on Malta | TCBSPlaced with PurposeYour Story, His GloryThe Upside-Down KingdomEvangelism | The BranchThe Death of the Kingdom of SelfActs 28: 7-10 | Ministry in Malta | TCBSServing as WorshipNo Excuses, Only Obedience
2025
January
A New Heart and SpiritSowing in Tears, Reaping in JoyFrom the Pit to a New SongNo Other God's Before MeSeek First the KingdomStoring Treasures in HeavenServing One MasterTrusting God with EverythingThe Power of InfluenceRelationships That InfluenceFinding Godly FriendsIron Sharpens IronSpeaking Truth In LovePrioritizing God's PresenceChoosing the Better PortionLiving With Eternal PerspectiveCreating Margin For God's PurposesBearing Fruit Through AbidingReleasing the Past, Embracing God's FutureTransformed By God's LoveOur Past And A Hope For A FutureEmbracing Our New Identity In Christ
No Comments