Casting Crowns - The Very Next ThingSample

THE VERY NEXT THING

Big Things For God

Whenever most believers read through Scripture, most of us grasp it, take it to heart, and believe it. We’re just not sure where our lives meet up with it.

For instance, I know I need to trust God with my life. That’s a big, giant concept. I know I need to be a leader—but I’m not always sure what that means. I know I need to be on fire, I need to be all in, I need to do whatever it takes, I need to cross the line, and I know I need to measure up to all of these huge slogans we hear.

We all believe it and we all want it. We’re just not sure what we’re supposed to do with it. We’re not sure what following God looks like from where we are. We have an idea of this awesome walk with Jesus out there somewhere, but we’re looking for the bridge to get over to it. Exactly what does following Jesus look like?

It’s just doing the very next thing he says. The. Very. Next. Thing. Serving God isn’t this giant dream about something that will happen a year from now. It’s not a goal he’s going to have you fulfill in a month. It’s right now.

“Big things for God” is not something you do after you graduate or move on to the next position or get a promotion. “Big things for God” is the person sitting next to you right now. God put breath in your lungs to sit next to that person right now, and you can do something right now.

The very next thing is the act of kindness you put off last week. Do it now—all in the name of Jesus. It’s the phone call you need to make, the note you need to send, the meal you need to provide, the pat on the back you need to give, the hard work you need to put in, the hospital visit you need to make, the bill you need to pay, the Scripture you need to quote in love, the forgiveness you need to grant, the forgiveness you need to seek.

We can make a relationship with Jesus too complicated by dwelling on nonessentials. Following God is just the very next word of love that you need to speak to somebody, to the very next broken heart that needs to be encouraged. Ministry isn’t limited to Sundays. It’s not on a stage. It’s not with certain gifts by certain people with certain personalities and a microphone. It’s you, where you are, doing the next thing God tells you to do.