Next Steps
“You know that after two days is the Passover, and the Son of Man will be delivered up to be crucified.” Matthew 26:2
As a leader I am often encouraged to help others move on to their next step. Mainly in their Christian walk. Whether it is baptism, serving on a team at weekend service or attending a small group to connect with other believers. It has only occurred to me recently, that I too need to be taking next steps regularly. If fact, we should all be taking steps not only in our faith walk, but also in our life walk to grow in all areas.
Today’s passage is about Jesus telling His disciples about His next step. A step that no one wanted to hear about or even believe. They didn’t understand and they didn’t get it, but Jesus did. I like how He starts it out with “You know” like He has already told them about this step before and reminding them now that the time is here. What really gets me is that Jesus knew His next step. He didn’t wonder what was coming up next and He didn’t go in a different direction to avoid the reason He had come in the first place. He walked out the remaining days and prepared for His next step.
On this side of the scriptures, we know how it played out for Jesus and His disciples, but on that side, the disciples just had to continue on in faith and believe that God was working out the details in these steps. They were on their own course of “next steps” and that was carrying on the ministry that Jesus had started 3 years earlier and being witnesses of His resurrection and ascension into heaven. They just didn’t realize it, yet.
Thankfully, our next steps will not be as excruciating as Jesus’ were. We don’t have to go through the torture that He went through, and our mission is not to die for the sin of the world, but it is to love the world just as Jesus did and still does today. Our mission is critical though and it is vital that we do what we are born here to do for God’s kingdom. He set it up that His plans would be accomplished in this world by His people. He needs each one of us to be doing our part and to be growing into the places that the previous generations have passed on. This is an ongoing mission and for things to be wrapped up here, this message of the gospel needs to reach to the ends of the earth. Our part is to make sure that happens whether by supporting missions around the world or simply sharing the message in our own neighborhood. We are to be the love of Jesus to the world around us today and every day.
Today I want to encourage you to seek out your next steps. Whether in your church or your community, in your job or with your family. Ask the Holy Spirit to make your part plain and clear to you so that you know what you are to be doing here. Don’t act like it is all up to God to get the work in this world done. Yes, He is working, but He is working through those who are available to partner with Him in these final days. Press into Him today and start stepping into what He has next for you to grow into. Jesus completed His assignment down to the last detail, and He expects us to complete ours too.
Today’s scripture reading: Matthew 26:1-5
1 Now it came to pass, when Jesus had finished all these sayings, that He said to His disciples,
2 “You know that after two days is the Passover, and the Son of Man will be delivered up to be crucified.”
3 Then the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders of the people assembled at the palace of the high priest, who was called Caiaphas,
4 and plotted to take Jesus by trickery and kill Him.
5 But they said, “Not during the feast, lest there be an uproar among the people.”
The Daily Dose 