What's Next?Sample

What’s Next: Small Steps to Everlasting Impact

I recently read the words of Jesus in Matthew 16:25 where he says: 

“For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it.”  

The context in which Jesus says this is interesting, to say the least. The Pharisees and Sadducees come to him demanding him to show them a sign from Heaven. When Jesus tries to warn the disciples about them, they do not have a clue as to what He is talking about. However, at least Peter acknowledges that he sees Jesus as the Messiah. Then, Jesus predicts His death and follows with this challenge. 

We are to identify with Christ in His rejection, suffering, shame, loss and death, so that in Him we too may rise to newness of life – to a life of faith – a life lived in the power of the Spirit – a life lived in submission to the will of God. 

The Apostle Paul said something similar, and even more personal when he said in Galatians 2:20: 

“I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless, I live; yet not I, but Christ lives in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.”

First, I am struck with the idea that when someone or something is dead, it stops moving; has no desires of its own, and has no value to anything related to the natural, living world around it. Yet, when one gives up his or her life to Christ, it is precisely at that point at which his or her life becomes usable, valuable, and alive like never before!

Second, besides Jesus Himself living out this reality, and those who surrounded Jesus, the Apostle Paul and other true disciples of Jesus down through the ages, give evidence of an unparalleled life taking place in exchange for the old.

Jim Elliot, the missionary from Oregon who gave up his life with four others trying to reach the treacherous Waodani Indians of Ecuador, had paraphrased these verses years before when he’d said prophetically: 

"He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep, to gain what he cannot lose.” 

And, in their deaths, not only was this tribe reached for Christ, but the tragedy unleashed a whole generation of workers taking the gospel to the ends of the earth!

So “WHAT’S NEXT?” for you on your journey? As you go, may you be willing to exchange small things to gain freedom, release, and the resurrection power of Jesus in order to build things that last forever. 

We want to thank Bill MacLeod, Executive Director of Mission ConneXion for contributing this day's plan content.