If you knew you couldn’t fail and that money was no object, what would you do? All of us have heard these words at some point in our lives. Perhaps some have even taken the challenge to think what they might do if they couldn’t fail and resources were plentiful. Few have actually taken the plunge.
As a leader in your home, church, or community, what steps would you take to implement the most needed, influential thing, program, process, entity, etc.? What would be step 1?
In a brief look through Google, using the question, “What is the most difficult task to do when making a choice?”, I received 6,640,000 responses in 0.62 seconds. The responses ranged from (1) priorities, (2) reality, (3) deciding what you really want to do and 6,639,997 other possibilities times 10, since most websites listed multiple suggestions.
So of the three listed above – priorities, reality and what you really want to do – which do you think would be at the top of the list. I agree that priorities are always important and reality can make or break anything that is considered but it’s the third one that I find most intriguing.
I don’t know how you handle things but when I want to REALLY do something I can get it done! For example, if there is a movie, a concert, a place to go and I REALLY want to experience it, I can find a way to make that happen. I rearrange my schedule, reallocate my financial resources, engage others to join me in the endeavor and make it a reality. I’m not quite as committed, however, to housecleaning, unpacking those last few boxes from last year’s move to SC, etc. I think they can always wait.
It makes me wonder why I don’t apply that same thinking to other things I want to do. Perhaps the key word is REALLY!
Sometimes we say REALLY but then other priorities and reality creep in. For example, Peter really wanted to follow Jesus to the death! In John 13, the story goes like this:
Simon Peter asked him, "Lord, where are you going?" Jesus replied, "Where I am going, you cannot follow now, but you will follow later." Peter asked, "Lord, why can't I follow you now? I will lay down my life for you." Then Jesus answered, "Will you really lay down your life for me? I tell you the truth, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times! (verses 36-38, emphasis added).
Peter’s three denials are recorded in John 18, beginning at verse 15.
The end of Matthew records the following continuation of this story:
Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken: "Before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times." And he went outside and wept bitterly. Matthew 26:75
Peter’s heart was broken. He REALLY thought he wanted to follow Jesus but Jesus knew that Peter’s ability to REALLY follow Him at this time was not possible. Peter wanted to. follow Jesus but the reality was that it was too hard, too much of a challenge to follow.
Fortunately, this is not the end of Peter’s story! After Pentecost and the arrival of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2), Peter became the very vocal follower of Jesus and leader of the church in Jerusalem. He spoke great truths into the hearts and lives of believers throughout time in his 1 and 2 Peter letters.
So how did Peter’s really become REALLY! Well, once you know you’re forgiven, loved and filled with the Holy Spirit nothing is impossible for you. In Matthew 19:26, following His conversation with the rich young ruler, Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible."
REALLY???? Yes, all things are possible when God is in the equation.
So what do you REALLY want to do in your home, community, church, work and more? Add God to the equation, seek His face and direction and move forward with great boldness for greater is He that is in you than He that is in the world (1 John 4:4)!
REALLY!!!!
By Karen McGuire
