Is there such a thing as the “perfect” excuse? One semi-truck driver apparently thought so. As he traveled along the highway, he came to a large bridge. A sign on the bridge listed the height clearance for trucks. The driver knew he couldn’t make it, but he went ahead anyway, and got stuck beneath the bridge. The top of the trailer peeled back like the lid of a can and caused a roadblock for two miles.

A policeman arrived at the scene and asked the driver what had happened. The embarrassed driver said, “Oh, I was just delivering this bridge, and I ran out of gas.”

Many people make similar excuses for not serving Christ: “I was going to go to church last Sunday, Lord, but my kids wouldn’t get out of bed,” or “I would have given a tithe this month, but at the last minute, someone offered us discounted Upper Deck tickets to the Super Bowl.” Maybe this hits a little closer to home: “Lord, my pastor is already doing such great work for You. What do You need me for? Besides, I’m not qualified.”

If we aren’t careful, we will excuse ourselves out of God’s will for us. And what might that be? God’s will is the reasonable service He desires that we perform for Him. This is the spiritual right of a God-planned life mentioned in Ephesians 2:10. If God has planned our lives, we need not worry about our perceived abilities or shortcomings, or those of others. What He has for us (future ministry opportunities, a prospective spouse, the place of our employment, or even where we will live) is for us, and for us alone. Meditate on that.

God has called you, Christian, so do everything He requires of you for His highest glory. He has given you all you need to succeed, and there is no excuse for excuses. Let Him work out the course He has set for your life today.