“Another day, a man stopped Jesus and asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?” Jesus said, “Why do you question me about what’s good? God is the One who is good. If you want to enter the life of God, just do what he tells you.” The man asked, “What in particular?” Jesus said, “Don’t murder, don’t commit adultery, don’t steal, don’t lie, honor your father and mother, and love your neighbor as you do yourself.” The young man said, “I’ve done all that. What’s left?” “If you want to give it all you’ve got,” Jesus replied, “go sell your possessions; give everything to the poor. All your wealth will then be in heaven. Then come follow me.” (Matthew 19”16-21 MSG)
Here is an early morning Sunday School lesson for you who do not have virtual Sunday School. I wanted to name it “Do More” or “Step Up from Doing What You Normally Do,” but I decided on “Take It A Step Further.” It’s applicable to our everyday lives and our living as Children of God. We can always take it a step further.
Around the house, you normally do certain chores or responsibilities that you assume belong to you. Take it a step further, and, oh well, do more. She normally does all the cooking and cleans up the kitchen. Take it a step further, and do more than that which you normally do. You give the same amount every week at church, not yet a tither. Well, take it a step further and become one. You have a self-defined, designated job description or even one a description of duties developed, heavily influenced by your cultural indoctrination in your home, on your job, and in the church. You think you are doing excellent! Well, re-think your self-appraisal and take it a step further. For you young one’s reading this, know that when you do all that you were hired to do, you just earn a “Meets Expectation.” You have not earned an “Excellent” or “Outstanding” rating. When you just do what you are expected to do, you are just meeting expectations. So do more. Take it a step further! You already have an accumulation of scores from your tests this semester and you are guaranteed to pass the course, but don’t stop preparing for the remainder of the next tests. Don’t stop taking a plethora of notes! Take it a step further. Do more!
You read the Scriptures in the daily meditations. Good for you! But take it a step further! Do more! At least read the context of some of the verses. Go further and study to show yourself approved, rightly handling the word of truth. Do you think you have exhausted all your efforts to reach the lost? Think again and do more! Take it a step higher!
You are God conscious today! Oh how holy! But listen! Take it a step further after Sunday has ended and be God conscious Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday as well! I know you usually pass the meditations on, but make sure to pass this one on to your fellow brothers and sisters in the Lord, and especially pass it on to anyone who thinks they have given their all. If you need extra evidence that they need to take it a step further, go to the cross and refer to Jesus who took it a few, hard, hard, hassled steps carrying a heavy cross beam to Golgotha where He died for our sins. And then, point to the fact that with believers, He is still doing more, interceding for us night and day at the throne of God. He is still saving us from the power of sin daily. Let me sound Biblical in the event that I have not inspired you to take it a step further. I’ll just simply throw in the word “ye.” That ought to do it! Be ye motivated! Be ye moved! Be ye much persuaded! Be ye blessed!
“Expectations is the place you must always go to before you get to where you’re going. Of course, some people never go beyond Expectations, but my job is to hurry them along whether they like it or not.” (Norman Juster; an American academic and writer.)
Still committed to the climb,
Mark L. King