Bible Study

Jan 2003

Take it to the next level.

What does this phrase mean? Most often it means to push harder, to achieve more, to work faster. It means that there comes a time when more is required. It depends on the situation as to why more is required: maybe you have come to an age where you have been given more responsibility - in your family or even being more responsible for yourself; maybe you have made first chair in band and now you are responsible for an entire section. There are a lot of “next levels” in life. We all know that we must work harder to achieve goals in school, athletics, performing arts, and jobs. But does the Bible have anything to say about taking it to the next level in our spiritual lives?

During Jesus’ ministry, almost everyone he encountered was challenged to take it to the next level. Look, for instance, at Matthew 4:18, when Jesus called his disciples. Each man had a job that earned him a living. They could have lived the rest of their lives being fishermen, tax collectors, or anything else and that would have been okay by the world’s standards.

Jesus, however, had a different set of standards and required more of them. He said, “Drop your nets, come follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” That sounds a lot like “Hey, guys, take it to the next level.” When he invited them, Jesus challenged them to do even more with the knowledge and skills that they already possessed. Jesus didn’t say “Hey, if you are interested, I might have a job at which you might do well.” No, he said, “Come, follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” “Come” is a command, not a suggestion. The promise of becoming fishers of men is not a maybe but, rather, a definite.

In each of our lives, God challenges us to take it to the next level. After we have turned our hearts over to God, we need to keep following the plan he has for us. That means that we can’t sit still, just thinking that what was good enough yesterday will be good enough today. God means for us to grow and accept the challenges that will allow us to be a part of His work.

Robertson McQuilkin author of “Life in the Spirit” says that our spiritual journey is a spiral and we are either moving up or down, but never are we standing still. Where are you moving in your life? Have you dropped your nets to follow where Jesus is calling you? Or are you still in the boat drifting further and further from His call? I challenge you to carefully think about taking your life to the next level. Do you need to turn your heart over to God so that you can begin your spiritual journey? Have you been in church your whole life but your relationship with God only exists on Sundays? Do you feel that telling others about God’s love only happens once a year on mission trips? If you are a follower of Jesus, God has already equipped you to take on the next challenge. He also promises to be with you as you deal with all of life’s issues. What then shall I fear? Please hear God’s call to step off the boat and take your commitment to the next level.

Many of you have already expressed a desire in missions. That’s how your name was added to this newsletter. We want to encourage you to take a hard look at your life. God has already told you that you are to be a fisher of men. What needs to change in your life right now so that you can follow what he has asked you to do? Maybe you need to say yes to experiencing a mission project for the first time. Maybe you need to realize that the next level for you is not just going on a project, but actively looking for people in your immediate community that need to know God’s love. At the point that Jesus called the disciples, they left their “9 to 5” jobs and started ministering 24 hours a day. In everything you do, look for a chance to share the gospel. Fishermen don’t just fish once a year. They fish everyday, all day, and sometimes … even at night. This type of dedication to God may be your next level.