A couple of weeks ago people across the United States voted for various local, state, and federal positions and propositions. An effective democracy is governed by the people for the people. Therefore voting and getting involved in community service is vital. It helps promote what’s right and change what’s wrong. Looking at an even bigger picture, being involved in the change God is bringing about spiritually is even more important, for it impacts not only present circumstances, but also the eternal destiny of you and others. As almighty creator of the universe, loving savior of the world, and perfecter of the future, God has bigger plans than you realize. True life is not found in fulfilling yourself or even adding God to your life. Rather it is letting God replace your life with his. It’s aligning your will with his and participating in his mission. Join his family by trusting and obeying Jesus, God the Son. Step up in faith to become like him and do what he does. Don’t shrink back in fear, apathy, or selfishness.
Why Step Up
In our fallen world of broken and lost individuals God is at work saving and restoring people who turn to him. He does this through Jesus and those who follow Jesus. Jesus makes salvation possible because he paid the death penalty for our wrongdoing and rose again to conquer death. Anyone who trusts him can also have victory over wrongdoing and live a new, abundant, everlasting life with God. Jesus represents the nation Israel and the redemptive plan God had for them whom he chose to know and love him as their benevolent king and to teach other nations to do the same. When Israel struggled to faithfully do this, God told his prophet Isaiah that the Messiah (or Christ in Greek) would come to fulfill this calling. Jesus is the anointed servant chosen to save the world.
“Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen one in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him, and he will bring justice to the nations. He will not shout or cry out, or raise his voice in the streets. A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out. In faithfulness he will bring forth justice; he will not falter or be discouraged till he establishes justice on earth. In his teaching the islands will put their hope.”
This is what God the Lord says—the Creator of the heavens, who stretches them out, who spreads out the earth with all that springs from it, who gives breath to its people, and life to those who walk on it: ‘I, the Lord, have called you in righteousness; I will take hold of your hand. I will keep you and will make you to be a covenant for the people and a light for the Gentiles, to open eyes that are blind, to free captives from prison and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness’” (Isaiah 42:1-6).
Not only is Jesus’ mission to seek and to save the lost, but it is also the calling of all who follow him. Jesus told his disciples, “As the Father has sent me, so am I sending you.” (John 20:21). After his death and resurrection and before ascending to heaven Jesus commissioned his disciples, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (Matthew 28:18-20).
Throughout history God has involved faithful people in his salvation work. God wants to work through you to reach others. That is his primary way of transforming you into the likeness of Jesus and letting others know of his love and salvation. In various parables, Jesus taught about being effective, kind, and responsible with the time, talent, and treasure God has entrusted you (Luke 12:42-42, 16:1-15; Matthew 25:1-30; ). So in the days God has given you before Jesus returns to earth to consummate his kingdom, be a wise steward and a loving child. Take the risk to carry out your Heavenly Father’s business.
How to Step Up
Even when no one else does or when you don’t know the potential results, always take the next step to do what is right as God enables. It’s human nature to not want to volunteer—to hesitate, to make excuses, or to hope someone else pitches in. This is compounded when getting involved is inconvenient, costly, difficult, painful, or shrouded in uncertainty. Yet believers are called to seek God’s kingdom first and put others before themselves. Deny yourself, take up your cross daily and follow Jesus (Luke 9:23-26). Sit in God’s presence resting and worshipping him (Ephesians 1). Then walk in his light, in his love, and in his wisdom (Ephesians 2-5). Put on the armor of God and stand your ground amidst the battle that he has already won (Ephesians 6).
Part of that armor is God’s word, the Bible. As you study the Bible, don’t just read it. Prayerfully observe what is going on in the passage. With God’s help, interpret what it means. Then apply it. Ask God how should I respond? What do I need to change in my mind, my attitude, or my actions as it relates to God and others? As you seek God to change you though his word, have the attitude of young Samuel who replied, “Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening” (1 Samuel 3:10). When God asks you to go, have the same response as the prophet Isaiah who exclaimed, “Here am I. Send me!” (Isaiah 6:8). Be positive and confident in God like Joshua and Caleb on the verge of conquering the Promised Land or Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego when facing death by fire for refusing to worship Nebuchadnezzar over God (Numbers 13:26-14:9; Daniel 3:16-30). Like young David confronting the blasphemous giant, Goliath, or Queen Esther revealing a deadly plot at her own peril, take initiative to give of what you have or address a problem which you see (1 Samuel 17; Esther 4:9-17). God will honor and magnify your faithful effort as he did with the lunch the boy offered Jesus who then miraculously fed thousands of people (John 6:1-15). Follow Jesus’ example. Out of love for lost and dying people who had rebelled against God, he humbled himself, stepped down from heaven to become a man, obeyed to the point of death knowing that this was the only way people could be saved (John 3:16; Philippians 2:5-11; Romans 5:8). Likewise let God’s love and truth guide you. Let his promises, faithfulness, and providence sustain you. Do what God tells you and leave the results to him. He brings beauty from brokenness and exalts the lowly.
The apostle Peter wrote of the glory in living out what God works in.
“His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.
For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins.
Therefore, my brothers and sisters, make every effort to confirm your calling and election. For if you do these things, you will never stumble, and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 1:3-11).
The Joy of Stepping Up
View stepping up in faith as an opportunity to joyfully love, not as an obligation to avoid. When you have questions, encounter a problem, or come across someone in need, do something about it. Don’t just walk away, stand idly by, complain, or worry. Instead take action as God leads. Now is the time to step up. Don’t let past failures hinder you. Give them to God to heal and teach you through. Don’t let current doubts disable you. Put faith above feelings. Don’t wait to become qualified or perfect. God uses ordinary, broken people to do extraordinary things. Humbly offer yourself. Be faithful, available, and teachable. As you actively participate in God’s ministry of reconciliation, he transforms you into all he designed you to be in Jesus. He refines and strengthens you. He tunes your heart to the music of his Spirit so you see with his eyes, resonate with his compassion, discern the composition of his will, echo his truth, and participate in his magnum opus of saving people. There is no greater adventure, worthwhile endeavor, and splendid joy than to step higher up and farther in with God.