Message by Larry Thacker Jr from September 27: Your Disability Is No Excuse
Our church was founded with a heart for people with disabilities. Over the years many have come through our doors, and many have gone out again, often to their eternal reward. Many caring people have helped us over the years, and for that we remain grateful.
But there is a danger we face in becoming too comfortable in our disability. I know that statement seems to stand in opposition to what many of us have fought so hard to gain. That is, acceptance, both within ourselves and from those around us. Allow me to add some clarification. It is easy for us to fall into the trap of low expectation. We may even come to believe that there is nothing we can do, and that really others are obligated to do it for us. Everyone needs help from time to time, and God made us to need each other, but we are also to take responsibility for our own lives. And when it comes to doing what God has told us to do, there really is no excuse.
For illustration, let us turn to Exodus Chapter 4, verses 10-16. We drop into the middle of a conversation that Yahweh and Moses began back in Chapter 3, when Moses spotted the burning bush that wasn’t burning and went to check it out. Yahweh called upon Moses to lead His people out of slavery in Egypt, but Moses really did not want to do it. He kept raising objections until God finally became angry with him. We’re going to examine one of those objections.
Then Moses said to Yahweh, “Please, Lord, I have never been a man of words, neither recently nor in time past, nor since You have spoken to Your slave; for I am one with a hard mouth and a hard tongue.” (v. 10)
Many have interpreted this to mean that Moses had a speech impediment, but the text is far from conclusive on that. Though it is clear that Aaron speaks for him in the beginning, he will have a lot to say in the years to come. Nevertheless, he clearly felt that he was not up to the task that God was assigning him, whatever the reason. But look How God answers
And Yahweh said to him, “Who has made man’s mouth? Or who makes him mute or deaf, or seeing or blind? Is it not I, Yahweh? 12 So now, go, and I, even I, will be with your mouth and will instruct you what you shall speak.” (v. 11)
When God calls us, He will give us what we need to accomplish the mission. Now let’s bring it down to Earth a bit. You might say, “I’m not Moses.” It’s true that Moses had a unique role to play in God’s story, but it’s also true that every single one of us is called by God to a life of holiness. That means much more than just showing up at church when the doors open. It extends to all of our lives. It means acting with integrity in every situation. It means doing what is right even when it costs you. It means doing what you can, and taking responsibility. When Adam and Eve sinned in the garden, the first thing they did was blame someone else.
Many of us face more challenges than most, but we are still responsible before God to live righteously. Yes, we will fall short. Otherwise Jesus’ sacrifice would not have been necessary. But we don’t get a pass just because life is a little harder for us. When God says “Go,” you better not say “no.”
