In high school I had a “tough-as-nails” cross-country coach (I could tell you the stories!) … But he was also a coach that always produced a winning team! He had a theme he drilled into our running psyche – “NO EXCUSES!” – NONE! Regardless!!
I thought of Coach Crumpton this morning and his “mantra” drilled into our psyche this morning during my time of “coffee with the Lord” as I read the “excuses” of several people Jesus summoned to follow Him in discipleship and ministry. Here, read it for yourself…
“As they were going along the road, someone said to him, “I WILL FOLLOW YOU WHEREVER YOU GO.” And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.” [in other words, “COUNT THE COST!] To another he said, “FOLLOW ME!” But he said, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.” And Jesus said to him, “LEAVE THE DEAD TO BURY THEIR OWN DEAD. BUT AS FOR YOU, GO AND PROCLAIM THE KINGDOM OF GOD!” Yet another said, “I WILL FOLLOW YOU, LORD, BUT LET ME FIRST SAY FAREWELL TO THOSE AT MY HOME.” Jesus said to him, “NO ONE WHO PUTS HIS HAND TO THE PLOW AND LOOKS BACK IS FIT FOR THE KINGDOM OF GOD.” (Luke 9:57-62 ESV)
Listen, just let me say, if you feel the Holy Spirit tugging at your heart and sense the beckoning call of Jesus to follow Him, may you also hear “Coach Crumpton’s” challenge… “NO EXCUSES!” In each of the cases in this Biblical account there were “Excuses… Excuses… Excuses!” Jesus’ response to His invitation – His summons? “NO EXCUSES!” (Hey, I can still hear it!)
Coffee With The Lord 