Stepping Up

In Ephesians 1, we read about how God desires to fulfill His purpose in us.11 In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will, 12 that we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His glory. 13 In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, 14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.

The Holy Spirit resides in us to seal us until the day we leave this earth and is the one who guides us and reminds us of the purposes to which God has called us - the Lord has a plan for our lives, and He calls us to step out, to turn to Him, and to follow His call.

In the book of Ruth, we see the story of two widows who were married to brothers - one chose to go back to her homeland, the other stayed with her mother-in law.
14 Then they lifted up their voices and wept again; and Orpah kissed her mother-in-law, but Ruth clung to her. 15 And she said, "Look, your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and to her gods; return after your sister-in-law." 16 But Ruth said: "Entreat me not to leave you, Or to turn back from following after you; For wherever you go, I will go; And wherever you lodge, I will lodge; Your people shall be my people, And your God, my God.


You can learn a lot and be inspired from American Idol, and it's for that reason that you will hear Chuck Harvey of The One 21 Music giving analysis, or former finalist Scott McIntyre, who is legally blind and has written a new book, on the Meeting House program next Thursday.

Today, I discovered an organization that is doing a great work in the Albany, Georgia area, which is where Top 3 contestant Phillip Phillips is from.   It's called Mission:Change, and one of its founders and leaders happens to be Phillip's sister - apparently this family has a pretty strong church background.   Here is an organization that believes in reaching out to the less fortunate in their community, organizing a host of special events, partnering with churches and other charitable organizations to impact their area.

Each month, they choose an organization and hold a special outreach or event.   For instance, in April, they held a prom - for some of the elderly in the area.   They have also supported an outreach to the homeless.   If you look closely at some of the American Idol videos, Phillip is wearing a Mission:Change t-shirt.   

Here's yet another example of people in a certain city that chose to "step up" and help people.   On Monday's Meeting House, I'll talk with a lady who has gained quite a reputation for challenging Christians to be involved in ministry opportunities, large, medium, and small.   She has written a book called, "A Cup of Cold Water", and inspires us to step up and get involved in service.

This morning, I was reading from the book of Ruth.   After her husband died, Ruth could have chosen to just be comfortable in the shadows of her homeland of Moab.  Instead, she stepped up and stepped out of her comfort zone and went with her mother-in-law to Bethlehem.   There she took a step out in faith and met Boaz, who eventually became her husband.    They gave birth to a son, Obed, who had a son named Jesse, who was the father of....David.   Ruth, even though she was not a Jew, had a place in the lineage of Jesus, illustrating to us that all have a place at the cross.

So, is it time for you to step up - for a change?   Maybe to move outside where you are comfortable to be a comforter to those in need?    God delights in our service to others, because it demonstrates our love for Him, and we experience a sense of delight because we are taking our eyes off ourselves.