We often talk about taking the steps to get from “Point A” to “Point B”, but fail to realize that there are sometimes steps to the step.  That’s right just to take a step, requires some steps!  Think about it:  In order to make a step, you have to raise your foot, move your foot and plant your foot!

Many times in the Bible, we will read Scriptures and think about the steps we need to take to get from where we are to where we need to be.  Sometime what we need to be thinking about is not the steps, but the step!  Someone said:  “The journey of a thousand miles begins with a step!”

Hebrews 10:23-25 provides us with the anatomy of a step.  A step that each of us must take if we are going on this amazing journey that our Creator has mapped out for us!  Here is what that Scripture says:  23 Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.  24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds,  25 not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

Notice the anatomy of a step in these verses:  First – we must raise our foot by “Holding unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful!”  HOLD ON TO HOPE!  Second  – we must move our foot by “considering how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds!”  SPUR ON OTHERS TOWARD LOVE AND GOOD DEEDS!  And third – we must plant our foot by “Not neglecting meeting together as some are in the habit of doing, but must encourage one another and all the more as we see the day approaching!”  MEET ON AND ENCOURAGE EVERYONE YOU CAN!

Hold on, spur on and meet on – it takes all three to take and make a step.  The beautiful and amazing thing, is once we take this step, we are on our way to an extraordinary journey!  Enjoy the journey and G3 = Give God Glory!

Almost everybody I know hates gossip when it is about them, but love it when it is about someone else.  We all know from personal experience that gossip hurts, divides and destroys.  The following story has some good information about how to deal with gossip!

In has been said that in ancient Greece, Socrates was known for his great knowledge and because of it was held by most in very high esteem.  One day an acquaintance met the great philosopher on the street and said, “Do you know what I just heard about your friend?”

“Hold on a minute,” Socrates replied. “Before telling me anything I’d like you to pass a little test. It’s called the “Triple Filter Test.”

“Triple filter?”

“That’s right,” Socrates continued. “Before you talk to me about my friend, it might be a good idea to take a moment and filter what you’re going to say. That’s why I call it the triple filter test.  The first filter is Truth. Have you made absolutely sure that what you are about to tell me is true?”

“No,” the man said, “Actually I just heard about it and …”

“All right,” said Socrates. “So you don’t really know if it’s true or not. Now let’s try the second filter, the filter of Goodness.  Is what you are about to tell me about my friend something good?”

“No, on the contrary…”

“So,” Socrates continued, “you want to tell me something bad about him, but you’re not certain it’s true. You may still pass the test though, because there’s one filter left: the filter of Usefulness.  Is what you want to tell me about my friend going to be useful to me?”

“No, not really …”

“Well,” concluded Socrates, “if what you want to tell me is neither true nor good nor even useful, why tell it to me at all?”

Before you say it – ask yourself:  Is it true, good and useful?  If not then let’s keep our mouths shut!

You can’t do it alone and you don’t have to!  God has given every person on the planet a purpose.  And believe it or not, we all ultimately have the exact same purpose.  Now the way we accomplish this purpose is different for everybody, but we all have the same purpose!  Our purpose is to give God glory by doing life together!

When I use the skills, gifts and talents that God has given me to bless and grow others and when others allow my skills, gifts and talents to bless and  grow them, God gets glory.  When others use their skills, gifts and talents to bless and grow me and when I let their skills, gifts and talents bless and grow me, God gets glory.  It is all about giving and receiving to and from one another for the glory of God!

Jesus Prayed For Unity!  In John 17, Jesus prayed His High Priestly Prayer and in this prayer He prayed that we would be one, just as He and God are one!  He prayed for our unity.  Our unity brings God glory!  Jesus brings together that which can only be brought together by a higher power and when we come together it gives glory to God by proving His existence and power in and through our lives.

Jesus Commanded Love!  In Matthew 22:37-40, Jesus gave us the greatest commandment when He told us to love God with all of our heart, soul and mind and to love one another as we love ourselves!  If we are really followers of Jesus, then love is not an option – it is a command!  We can’t have real unity with out real love!  To not love is to disobey Jesus our Savior and miss the fulfillment that comes from accomplishing our purpose!

Jesus Expects Obedience!  1 Peter 1:22 says that we purify ourselves by obeying the truth.  This obedience to the truth means that we have a sincere love that flows from deep within our hearts for one another.  All through the Scriptures, we can find references about how we do this with and to each other.

We can’t do it alone and be pleasing to God!   So stop right now and think about how and what you allow to get in the way of your doing things the way that God wants them done.  Ask God to help you to get rid of the stumbling block or blocks!  With God and each other, it is amazing what we can accomplish for God’s glory and a blessing the fulfillment we will receive!