Incremental Obedience…God Leads in Steps NOT Leaps
The phrase “leap of faith” is commonly used in Christian circles. I’ve probably even used the term myself. But did you know that this phrase is actually unscriptural? God leads in steps NOT leaps. We’re not frogs. We’re humans. Humans walk, not jump. We need to learn how to practice incremental obedience via steps that God gives us.
Previously, I read through the devotional plan “How to Neighbor” by Pastor Craig Groeschel from Life.Church on the YouVersion Bible app. It’s an excellent 10-day plan. I highly recommend it. In part of the plan, Pastor Craig is talking about Esther and her pivotal role in helping God’s people. He mentioned that Esther had to take steps of incremental obedience…
“As a teen, Esther pushed back darkness and risked everything for her neighbors because Mordecai, her adoptive father, reminded her why she was alive “for such a time as this.” Think about this. Esther, and every other person who’s ever done anything valuable for God, basically just took incremental steps of obedience.”
The frequently quoted scripture, “Perhaps you were made…for such a time as this” (Esther 4:14) can apply to our lives too. We will have “for such a time as this” moments throughout our lives. Those moments will require steps, not leaps, of incremental obedience leading up to them.