Time to Go Forward

When the time comes to send your team out into the world, you want to make sure they are ready for what may come their way.

"Simon, Simon, listen! Satan has demanded to sift all of you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your own faith may not fail; and you, when once you have turned back, strengthen your brothers." And he said to him, "Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death!" Jesus said, "I tell you, Peter, the cock will not crow this day, until you have denied three times that you know me." He said to them, "When I sent you out without a purse, bag, or sandals, did you lack anything?" They said, "No, not a thing." He said to them, "But now, the one who has a purse must take it, and likewise a bag. And the one who has no sword must sell his cloak and buy one. For I tell you, this scripture must be fulfilled in me,'And he was counted among the lawless'; and indeed what is written about me is being fulfilled." They said, "Lord, look, here are two swords." He replied, "It is enough." - Luke 22:31-38

When Jesus sent the, out in pairs to spread the Word, he had them take nothing with them to show that they were not a threat to anyone.

But now that they will be a target because of him, Jesus is warning them that they need to be ready for whatever evil is poised to clutch them and kill them.

Scary situation, right? In such a short time, so much has changed.

The leader Jesus chose was Simon Peter, and now it was his job to stay alive and lead the rest.

Maybe that is why he hesitated to reveal himself as one of the followers when challenged three times that very night.  Perhaps he was thinking he had to survive for the cause.  Or maybe he was just scared.

There will come a time for each of us when either we have to pick up where someone before us left off, or we will have to hand off what we have done for someone to continue the work we started.

This is our time to go forward.

How will we react to the challenge?  Will we be ready to step up or step down?

Jesus spent three years or so grooming those who would have to carry the mission and ministry forward, and from the twelve, one would become the leader, Simon, who he named Peter.

Now is the time for Peter to take the reigns.  

He cannot go and die with Jesus, and he knows that.  He really wants Jesus to stay a while longer, but that is not possible.

Imagine how he feels.

Maybe he would have liked Jesus to prepare him more, or maybe he feels he could have realized how much he still needed to learn.

When the time comes to step up, we need to be ready, and we need to trust the Holy Spirit will be there to help us.

And when it is time to step down and hand over the reigns, we need to do the same.  Maybe as Elijah did for Elisha, we can ask God to give a double dose of what strength we have to the one we chose to come after us.

If we do, it may be all the strength they need.

More to come...