Philippians 2:13
“…for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.”
How faithful are you to take action, to move forward when God places an idea on your heart?
I am currently reading through the book of Acts and came across a note I had previously made in the margins that caught my attention. In Acts chapter 13 we read how the Holy Spirit called Saul and Barnabas to preach the gospel in various cities. After the church leaders prayed and fasted regarding what they heard, they sent Paul and Barnabas on their way. Written in small print in the margins of my Bible, I had noted, “After being called, Paul and Barnabas went. How many are called, but never go?”
While the fact Paul and Barnabas went does not exactly seem earth shattering when reading the story, it could be argued that through their obedience God changed the course of human history with the spread of the gospel. While God did not need their obedience to accomplish His plan, God used them beyond anything they could have ever imagined because they chose to partner with Him, to join God where He was already at work.
Consider how different the story could have been. What if instead sending Paul and Barnabas to preach after hearing the word from the Holy Spirit, the church leaders prayed and fasted – and then talked a bit more about the idea, then wrote out a list of pros and cons regarding sending Paul and Barnabas, and then decided to run the idea past a few more trusted advisors, and then elected to have them stay put until they had a bit more clarity regarding God’s long-term vision. While it seems ridiculous, many of us often fall into just such a trap. We hear God’s voice, we know where He is leading, we sense the call, but then we fail to ever take a step of action. We lose out on being used by God when we choose to stay where we are instead of going where God is leading.
Philippians 2:13 says, “…for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.”
Consider that for a minute. God not only works in us to give us the desire to follow Him, but He works in us to take action as well. We live out our faith by taking action, not by merely pondering and reflecting upon what God has spoken to us.
What idea has God placed on your heart that you need to take action on? Consider today what that first step will be. Don’t allow yourself to become overwhelmed, you don’t have to figure out every step you will take, just decide what that first, small step will be and then commit to take it this week.
As leadership expert John Maxwell said, “Sometimes the smallest step in the right direction ends up being the biggest step in your life.”
Choose to be a part of what God is doing, go where He is leading. What first step will you take this week?
