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One Step At A Time

Luke 19:28-31
After Jesus had said this, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem. As he approached Bethphage and Bethany at the hill called the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples, saying to them, ‘Go to the village ahead of you, and as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here. If anyone asks you, “Why are you untying it?” say, “The Lord needs it.”’ (NIVUK)

Apart from the really adventurous, most people usually like to know what is happening ahead of time.  They like to know the 'why' as well as the 'what' about instructions they are ordered to carry out.  In other words they like to see the end from the beginning.  But that knowledge is in God’s hands alone.  However He does reveal what He is going to do, so that when it happens we know it is all part of His plan (Isaiah 46:10), but He does not tell us when He will act.  He wants us to trust Him instead of trying to control our own future.

Of course, it is necessary to have plans when we are responsible for projects; otherwise nothing would ever get done.  And there is a right sense of needing to manage a well thought-through plan if that is the role delegated to us.  But when God is doing His work, He is in charge and every action is His initiative (Jeremiah 29:11-13).  Even as His helpers, we are not allowed to know the end from the beginning because we do not need to (Deuteronomy 29:29); He instructs us one step at a time (Psalm 32:8).
 
The disciples had no idea how their next week would turn out.  But Jesus did: He knew that He would go to Jerusalem to be crucified, taking responsibility for the sins of the world (Luke 9:22).  However, the first day would be totally different - with Jesus riding a donkey up the hill to the gates of the great city to unanimous applause (Luke 19:37-38).  It would be a week of wild contrasts: but Jesus was firmly in control.  And at each stage He skilfully involved the trainee apostles, but only one step at a time.  This command to find a specific donkey was without explanation except that the Lord was in control.  It was the same with Noah, Abraham and Isaac, Moses, Gideon, Samuel, David, Jeremiah ... and the apostles ... it kept them trusting, kept them from interfering and kept them safe and effective!  The Lord is always in control.
 
Although we like the apparent comfort of being in control, the reality is that God only delegates part of His authority and retains ultimate command of everything.  When it comes to gospel ministry, the Lord is definitely in the driving seat.  We may be His co-workers, but He has authority over the entire plan and the detailed strategy to enable it to happen.  We may know something of the vision and be able to see ways to move ahead, but we cannot know the end from the beginning because that is God's sole privilege.  Usually, He lets us know just enough so that we can take the necessary action, but not so much that we think we can do it all without His further help.  It is this sort of daily step by step instruction which enables us to grow as believers as we see how His work is being done.  Fearful arrogance demands to know the whole plan before committing to any of it: but trusting obedience relishes the adventure of step-by-step discipleship.  There is no greater thrill than trusting the Lord and working with Him day by day.

Prayer 
Dear Lord. Thank You for not making Your commands hard to understand, even if they need much courage to do them. Thank You also for not telling me too much so that I would either be fearful or proud about the outcome. Please forgive me when I have fretted because I did not know the end from the beginning. Help me to trust You more and more; daily coming back to You and trusting that as You direct each step and direction, I can trust You for all I cannot see; and know that every day my obedient contribution will be moulded together with many others so that You get the glory. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
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© Dr Paul Adams