Step up the stairs!
Luke 8:42-48 Now a woman, having a flow of blood for twelve years … came from behind and touched the border of His garment … immediately her flow of blood stopped … And He said to her, “Daughter, be of good cheer; your faith has made you well. Go in peace.” (NKJV).
What goals or vision do you have for this year? What plans have you thought about you believe are part of the purposes of God for you this year? Like the woman in our text for this Brief Word, maybe we’ve been looking for something, hoping for change, believing for a breakthrough. Her miracle came when she did something about it, she pressed into Jesus!
Maybe we’ve already made some New Year’s Resolutions. But how many of us make New Year’s resolutions only to have them last a few months or weeks. When thinking about this I came across a quote by Vaclav Havel:
“Vision is not enough. It must be combined with venture. It is not enough to stare up the stairs, we must step up the stairs”.
Simple. Profound. Brilliant! Sobering. Challenging.
We make well-founded, well-intentioned New Year’s resolutions, and would consider them goals. We would say they are God’s intentions for us. Goals are fine, they often serve to motivate us into action. They are like plans, which are intended achievements, something or somewhere we intend to be or do. Without goals many of us don’t get anything done. Goals give us direction, they help us stay on track, and they measure our success.
Writer and author John Maxwell says of goals; “Putting details to your dreams”. Mainfreight Transport Company say of goals; “Arrival at one goal is the startingpoint of another”. James O. Davis, Cofounder Billion Soul, Cochair/Global Networking says of Goals; ”G, Gather the facts — Research. O, Organize a plan — Reflect. A, Act on the plan — Respond. L, Look back — Review. S, Set new goals — Recommit”.
But some of us still don’t get much done or achieve our vision even though we do have goals. Sadly goals can become an unfulfilled, out-there-something, if we don’t take some form action towards it. Goals can become just a dream, almost meaningless. Jack Hayford (Pastor of one of the USA’s larger and most significant churches) once wrote an article entitled; “Why I don’t set goals”. (His premise was that he’d rather simply hear what God wanted him to do, and do that, knowing it would have a greater chance of success, than to set goals that may be just his own desires and dreams, much less likely to succeed).
Here’s a question: what can we see when we stair up the stairs of God’s plan and purpose for us this year? The Lord spoke to Abram and said; Genesis 13:14-15 And the Lord said to Abram, after Lot had separated from him: “LIFT YOUR EYES NOW AND LOOK FROM THE PLACE WHERE YOU ARE—northward, southward, eastward, and westward; for all the land which you SEE I give to you and your descendants forever. (NKJV). (Emphasis mine).
Wherever we’re at, whatever situation we’re in, whatever pressures we’re faced with, God calls us to look up, to raise our eyes and see something different! He has something for us to “see”, a dream, an idea, a purpose, a vision. Then the good idea changes and becomes a God idea. And that is something we need to commit to.
So, “look from the place where you are”. God has some great things for you to see and some great things for you to do, no matter how old or young you are.
Our quote mentioned earlier has some truths as to how to achieve God’s purposes and get things done. Instead of looking at vision and goals, we must do something about them. We can stare at them all we like, but nothing will happen. But when we put action into it, the “venture” part, we’ll be moving towards achievement. The venture part can be a nervous time, it can be unsettling, we’re going where we may not have gone before.
But when we add some action to our vision, the venture becomes an “adventure”. The Apostle Paul certainly had some adventures in his life! I don’t believe its God’s will that we all suffer as he did, but, there is still some adventure to be had in our walk with God as we partner with Him in His plans for us.
So here’s my second question; what steps are before you and I, what adventures, that if we took a bold, decisive, wise, faith-filled step onto, would send us towards our vision and even the fulfillment of it this year? Maybe what we really need is not a resolution, but, resolve! Very similar I know, but resolutions don’t always result in action, whereas a resolve does. Actually taking a step up the stairs of God’s plan.
I’m thankful one Man, our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, who lived 2,000 years ago, was determined to fulfill His goals, His mission, His adventure. He “saw” what was before Him and relentlessly walked towards it and did it. The action He took has changed my life and those of millions ever since!
The woman with the flow of blood, pressed in to Jesus! She knew He was the only answer to her need. She moved in His direction. Oliver W Holmes once said; “The greatest thing in the world is not so much where we stand, as in what direction we are moving”.
Not only is Jesus calling us to look up the stairs, He is reaching down, calling us up, taking us by the hand and assisting us as we take each step.
So what direction are we moving in, what is our next “step”, to achieving the plans and goals, the “God” ideas He has for us? As an act of worship let’sstep up the stairs of our vision this year.
