Fumbling Toward Jesus: It’s Time To GO! (John 14:31)
I absolutely love it when God slaps me with a new truth. That happened this week, as I’ve been studying in My Utmost for His Highest by Oswald Chambers. He writes,
Dreaming about a thing in order to do it properly is right; but dreaming about it when we should be doing it is wrong.
Oswald Chambers
My Utmost For His Highest
How profound is this?! Looking throughout the New Testament, we see that Jesus is a man of action, and He asks the same of His disciples.
If you notice throughout the New Testament, He wanted the disciples to join Him in the NOW. I mean, a third of his initial disciples were called with essentially, “leave your stuff in the boat, just come with Me” (paraphrased calling of Peter and Andrew, and James and John from Matthew 4:18-21).
While walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon (who is called Peter) and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.”
Immediately they left their nets and followed him. And going on from there he saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets, and he called them.
Immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.
Matthew 4:18-21
When He was petitioned to make visits to people for purposes of healing, He operated in the NOW. He went directly and did it. Even when He waited to visit Lazarus after he’d died, it was for a specific purpose—He wasn’t just hanging out thinking about it.
Jesus turned, and seeing her he said, “Take heart, daughter; your faith has made you well.” And instantly the woman was made well.
Matthew 9:22
We often talk about our Christian walk being a race that we run over the course of our lives—we spend a lot of time talking about endurance—but how much time do we spend thinking about the starting line and dreaming about the waypoints, as opposed to actually lacing up our shoes and hitting the track?
Let’s be more like Jesus. Let’s GO and do the thing! Let’s leave our stuff in the boat and follow Him!
Further Reading:
John 11:1-37 (The Death of Lazarus)
Consulted References:
Chambers, Oswald. My Utmost For His Highest. February 19. Barbour Publishing, 1935.
1. What is an area of your life that needs more action?
2. Do you consider yourself a dreamer? In regard to your own life, do you think that is a generally helpful or detrimental quality to possess?
3. Have you ever had a time when Jesus called you to do something, and after ignoring the call for a long time, you recognized how easily it came together once you were obedient? Explain.
Drop a comment below, and let’s grow together in His grace!
I am Jessamyn Orchard (@jessamynorchard), and I am a former youth pastor, worship minister, and church lay leader, who graduated from a Christian college. Most recently, however, I’m an addict in recovery who rededicated my life to Jesus about 6 months ago. I was raised in church, and saved at age 12, but I did a lot of straying over the past 10+ years, falling into pits of sin through addictions and self-pity. I’m no authority, just a believer in a big God and called to spread His word through as many conduits as present themselves to me. Fumbling Toward Jesus is a multi-media ministry campaign and includes a written blog of daily devotions on Steemit and an accompanying monthly podcast on Anchor.fm, and it represents years of study—both over the years and lately, and now combined with a whole load of human experience. I’m just a super nerdy sinner saved by a really awesome grace.
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A Sinful Woman Forgiven Series: Part I,Part II, Part III, Part IV
Keeing Negative Thoughts In Check (Philippians 4:8)
When Depression Strikes (1 Kings 19:5)
The Discipline of Darkness (Matthew 10:27)
Unless otherwise noted, all scripture quotations are from The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Any bold or italics used in scripture quotation is of my own emphasis.
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