Gridlock

Matthew 28:18-20

(Use the link below to read the verses.)

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2028%3A18-20&version=NIV;NLT

 

 

There are a lot of things that can keep us from taking action. Fear, feeling overwhelmed by an impending major decision or lack of confidence, just to name a few. Also high on that list is the loss of a family member or a close friend.

 

Any of these can send us into an emotional tailspin that can take hours, days, weeks or even months to recover. In the meantime, we remain motionless at best or even going backwards at worse. It’s as if our decision making ability, even our instincts to survive, are frozen in time. We’re in a personal gridlock.

 

The disciples were faced with a similar situation following the death, resurrection and ascension of Jesus. They had lost their leader. They were afraid. What would happen to them? Where would they go? What would they do?

 

These verses in Matthew 28, are some of the last recorded words that Jesus spoke to his disciples telling them in no uncertain terms that they were to go and make disciples; that he would be with them always.

 

It seems simple doesn’t it? Yet, apparently more was needed. In Acts 1, as the disciples were looking up into the sky where Jesus had just disappeared, apparently leaving them forever; they were unable to make a decision… unable to take action. At that point, two men dressed in white spoke to them.

 

¹¹ “Men of Galilee, why do you stand here looking into the sky?”    NIV

 

In other words, “Get up off the couch and get going. You heard Jesus promise you power from the Holy Spirit. Nothing’s going to happen when you aren’t doing anything. So do something and watch him work”. That isn’t in the Bible, but they could have said those words to the disciples… and to you and me.

 

Matthew 28:18-20 is well known as the Great Commission. It’s often quoted and used as a teaching tool for evangelism. It’s Jesus’ call to action. However, Acts 1:8-11 is also his call to action. Following this call, the first thing the disciples did was to pray.

 

So, why are you standing there looking up into the sky? Reading this devotional? Get going! Do something! Get involved! Break out of your gridlock! Pray!

 

 

⁸ But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” ⁹ After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight. ¹⁰ They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. ¹¹ “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.”         NIV

 

 

 

What Will Your Next Step Be?

Ephesians 2:1-10

 

 

Have you ever felt like God was calling you to do something?

 

There are numerous stories of people in the Bible who were called by God to action. Abram was called to go into a land he had never seen. Moses was called to lead the Israelites out of Egypt even though he was an escaped criminal. Gideon, while hiding in a wine press, was called a Mighty Warrior to lead the Israelites against the Midianites.

 

One of my favorite stories is Isaiah being called by God in the temple. It was filled with smoke and the foundations shook from the voice of the seraphim as they called out, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory.” When Isaiah

sees the holiness of God he also sees his own sin and repents. It was only then that he responded, “Here am I Lord. Send me.”

 

Paul wrote to the Ephesians, “All of us also lived among them (the disobedient) at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.”

 

Like Isaiah, Paul recognized his sinfulness and that only God’s mercy and grace could save him. But to what end? Paul wrote, ^“For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Like Isaiah, Paul responded to God’s saving grace by saying, “Here am I. Send me.”

 

As believers, we are called to ministry. “You are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for you to do.” He has brought people and experiences into your life that make you uniquely gifted to share his love and the Good News of Jesus Christ with others.

 

Like the stories in the Bible, we have been called to step outside of our comfort zone and go into a land we have never seen. We have been called to do things that we may not feel qualified to do. We have been called as a Mighty Warrior to battle even when we feel powerless and afraid.

 

God has gifted you, prepared you and brought you to where you are today. Now it is time for you to take the next step. What will it be?