It’s your move 

A young dad recently attended a men’s conference where he was challenged by the speaker…

Stop using your phone to do your devotional Bible reading. No one knows what you’re doing when you’re looking at your phone. You may be reading your Bible, or you may be looking at scores and highlights, or something worse. But when you have a paper Bible in front of you and you’re interacting with it, there’s no question what you’re doing. Be an example to your family by reading a real Bible, not a digital device. 

The dad took the speaker’s words to heart and decided he would put his phone away and bring out his Bible during his quiet times. It was the Right Next Step for him as he left the men’s event.  

After about two weeks the man’s daughter came to him and voluntarily said, “Daddy, I know what your favorite book is. It’s the Bible because I see you reading it everyday.”

Well, that sealed the deal for this dad. There would be no going back to doing devotions on his phone. He wanted to continue to live out a tangible example for his family. Without question, he was reading the Bible. He took the Right Next Step, and it made a difference. 

Every man is at a different point on his journey with Jesus. Actually, some guys are just on a journey…but without Jesus. (Let’s pray and help these men get to Jesus.) Others, like me, and probably like you, are walking with Jesus, but we may have distanced ourselves from Him. Maybe we’re walking too slow, or too fast. Maybe we stopped for a little break. Perhaps that break turned into extended time away. Wherever we are in this voyage, the big question we must always consider is this: What is our Right Next Step with Jesus?

 

take a walk

Each Resurrection Day, I try to read Luke 24:13-35. I love the story of these two men actually walking with Jesus on the day of his resurrection. Here’s how it starts. 

That very day two of them were going to a village named Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, and they were talking with each other about all these things that had happened. While they were talking and discussing together, Jesus himself drew near and went with them. While they were talking and discussing together, Jesus himself drew near and went with them. But their eyes were kept from recognizing him. And he said to them, “What is this conversation that you are holding with each other as you walk? And they stood still looking sad. Luke 24:13-17

When you don’t know what to do, it may be well to take a walk. That’s what these two disciples did on the day of Christ’s resurrection. Their teacher had been brutally beaten and executed on Friday while they abandoned the scene and perhaps watched from a distance. They had observed the Sabbath according to their custom. Then on this day, the first day of the week, some women who also followed Jesus discovered that His body was no longer in the tomb. A few men also went and confirmed that the tomb was empty. The body was not there. 

Bewildered and uncertain, their next step was to take a seven-mile walk, literally, to Emmaus. Then, Jesus showed up. (You should stop and read the entire story. Luke 24:13-35). 

At many times in my life, if I’ve been willing, courageous, or obedient enough to take what I knew to be the Right Next Step, Jesus showed up and brought clarity. We talk about this frequently at Noble Warriors. We constantly encourage men to take the Right Next Step. The crazy thing is that most of us know what we should do. We simply choose not to do it. 

What’s your right next step?

Sometimes the Right Next Step is simple and obvious…

Pray. Give. Go.

Sometimes it ‘s more complex and daunting…

Lead. Teach. Rebuke.

And then there are some really tough ones…

Speak up. Shut Up. Stand up. Humble yourself. 

Does any of this sound familiar?

At each of the Noble Warrior’s conferences this year, we asked men to consider how God spoke through keynote messages, workshops presenters, worship and fellowship to give them direction for their Right Next Step. We asked men to write down the assignment and to share it with a brother. We also asked some guys to share their Right Next Steps with us. Here are some of their answers.

• Lead like the man God has called me to be.
• INTENTIONALLY lead my family and be a disciple that makes disciples that make disciples. 
• Work toward unity among believers. 
• Be intentional in my life. 
• Watch every thought and become accountable to others. 
• Disciple men.
• Focus more on my marriage which means paring back significantly the ministries I lead and support at my church. 
• Find a “bigfoot” to pull in and pour into their life.
• Find accountability partners.
• Take active reasonsibility for home maintenance instead of waiting for my wife to tell me what’s broken.
• Make a new habit of praying with my wife. 
• Lead men. 

What is your right next step? If you know what the Lord wants you to do…literally if you know the Right Next Step to take in your faith, what are you waiting for? IT’S YOUR MOVE. Jesus will meet you there. He will welcome you, encourage you, strengthen you, grow you, and use you. Ultimately, through your obedience, He will satisfy you. 

Still need encouragement, here are some examples of men who took the Right Next Step, and it made all the difference in their lives and the lives of others. 

• Moses approached the burning bush. Exodus 3:3
• David ran toward Goliath. 1 Samuel 17:48
• Matthew left his job with the IRS. Matthew 9:9
• James and John stepped away from the family business. Mark 1:20 
• Nicodemus came to Jesus in the night. John 3:1-15
• Jesus went to the cross in Jerusalem. Matthew 20:18
• Peter stepped out of the boat. Matthew 14:29
• Blinded Saul walked to Damascus and met Ananias. Acts 9:8

What’s your Right Next Step...to walk with Jesus now and for a lifetime?

 

we’d love to pray for you! 

Send us your prayer requests to Noble Warriors. Email: office@noblewarriors.org

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