Over the past several weeks we've been slowly cleaning up my wife Nicole’s art gallery. As we've done the work, I thought to myself on more than one occasion, “someday this will make a really nice Bible study space.” Yesterday, as I was reading in the book of I John, I thought to myself “someday this would make a great five week Bible study.” Do you ever do that? Do you ever look at something and think “someday?”
As I was thinking about the “someday” of allowing the gallery to become a beautiful space for small group, and as I thought about the “someday” of leading a study in I John, I am quite certain I heard the Holy Spirit say “why not now?” Sometimes I think God is trying to lead us, and we find ourselves saying “someday.” Someday I am going to go on a mission trip. Someday I am going to talk with that coworker about Jesus. Someday I'm going to get connected to a small group.
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I have definitely come to the conclusion that our time on this Earth is too short for “someday.” Personally, I want to get better at not only hearing the voice of God, but responding. I want to take more risks. I want to step out in faith more often. I want to experience all that God intends for me in this lifetime. Not just for the sake of experience, but for the advancement of his Kingdom.
The only way to move forward is to take the first step. So guess what? Next week I'm going to launch what I am calling a “pop up Bible study” in the gallery on the book of I John. I'm calling it a pop up Bible study because I'm not taking months to schedule and promote it. I’m just gonna start...next Monday at 7:00 p.m. I am not telling you this story because I am hoping you will all come to this Bible study. Certainly I would love for some of you to attend. But the truth is I only have space for about 20.
I am really sharing the story with you because I am hoping it will encourage you to take some risks. To step out in faith. To follow God's lead when you hear his voice. Maybe it will be tomorrow at work when you feel God's nudge to invite a coworker for coffee and begin a relationship that could lead to them coming to know Jesus. Or maybe God is going to lead you in some entirely different way. The point is to be open to his leading. To listen for his still small voice. And to have the courage to respond when he speaks. “Someday” is so far away. Why not now?
I look forward to seeing you all this Sunday, either in-person or online, as we continue our important new series “Love One Another.” And if any of you are interested in the I John study, there is a sign-up with all the details at this link
God Bless,
Pastor Steve