THE NEXT BIG THING
By Ps. Darryl Woodson
Song of Solomon 2:15_Catch us the foxes, the little foxes, that spoil the vines: for our vines have tender grapes.
1st Corinthians 6:12-13_All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any. Foods for the belly, and the belly for foods: but God shall destroy both it and them. Now the body is not for fornication, but for the Lord; and the Lord for the body.
Sometimes we can be so focused on the big things that we lose sight of the important ones. The small things or ideas could be the stepping stone to the big things. Many opportunities come our way and we need to cease them all, not only the seemingly big ones. There are little foxes that somehow get into the vines. We have to pay attention to the small things in our lives because they could be these that chip away at the big things that God prepares for our lives.
Even as we look in the Bible, we see examples of people who make seemingly small decisions or did small acts that led them to great places. People like Mary who chose to sit at Jesus’ feet to listen to what He said. We have to be careful about the little things in our lives that keep us too busy to spend time with Jesus…in a time of communion with Him.
Even when Jesus washed His disciples’ feet, such an act might have seemed very trivial or even belittling, but the significance of this act was and is so great, it still rings through history. Abraham has a story to tell as well of the little things that can bring a man to his greater destiny.
It is all these little things that we have to watch, like apologizing to somebody, or letting someone else go before you, giving out of a cheerful heart and not grudgingly, keeping your word when you give it, keeping silent about some things around you. Being careful about the friends we decide to keep and hang around.
Paul in his first letter to the Corinthians was strongly pointing out a great truth in this chapter. Not everything is helpful, even if it is lawful. Keeping the useless things in our lives can suck the good things out of us. Let us learn to live on purpose and by the word of God! Our bodies are to be presented to God as a living sacrifice.
These 3 things below will help to empower you to make those small decisions in your life;
Be honest and stop lying to yourself. Fact is: it is hard to change and you can’t change all by yourself. But God gives His power for this to happen in your life and His power is more than enough. Honesty with yourself will greatly make you honest with God even more so in prayer.
1st Corinthians 10:13_There has no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted above that you are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that you may be able to bear it.
Do something about it now! Decide what you need to decide and decide to do it now! Even if it is a small decision, make it now and be vigilant. It takes weakness and thus total dependence on God to overcome what you need to overcome in your life. Stop fantasizing about where you want to be and actually start on the journey to get there.
Matthew 8:21-22_And another of his disciples said unto him, Lord, allow me first to go and bury my father. But Jesus said unto him, Follow me; and let the dead bury their dead.
Luke 9:59-62_And he said unto another, Follow me. But he said, Lord, allow me first to go and bury my father. Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but you go and preach the kingdom of God. And another also said, Lord, I will follow you; but let me first go bid them farewell, who are at home at my house. And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.
You put your hand on the plow and not look back because looking back means that we are making excuses.
Never give up the fight! Keep making progress. Don’t just sit there as if helpless, the hand of the Lord is ready to help you! Keep moving ahead. Come to a place of no turning back where you have faith to see that great expected end.