one step: Matthew 18.3

“And if your hand or your foot causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life crippled or lame than with two hands or two feet to be thrown into the eternal fire. And if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into the hell of fire.

It’s amazing what we are willing to give up when we greatly value something. When we greatly value work, we sacrifice vacations, family time, rest, mental health, and more. When we value a relationship, we tell others “no” to engagements and invitations that take our time. We tell ourselves “no” to other relationships. We sacrifice a lot for the things we value.

Do we value the life that is to come enough to sacrifice for it? Do we value closeness to God enough to sacrifice and avoid temptation? Jesus certainly does not recommend that we physically maim ourselves. He is suggesting, however, that we take whatever steps necessary to avoid sinning.*

Through this passage, taken out of context, we can conclude that Jesus values following the rules above all else. We can decide that Jesus would give up anything to follow the rules. We can decide that to please Him we too must do everything right.

I believed that for a large portion of my life. I believed that to please God I had to do everything right. I would punish myself with negative self talk and self-loathing for messing up. I valued following the rules above all else. Perhaps Jesus intended something more.

Why would Jesus want us to avoid sin at any cost? It’s simple: sin separates us from Him. Jesus is very passionate about relationship with us. The invitation is to be equally passionate. Jesus was so passionate about relationship with us that He gave up everything even to the point of death on a cross.

Today, take a step.

Maybe today the one step God wants you to take is to give up something to remove what may stand in the way of you and Him. Perhaps today God is inviting you to take a big step to remove sin from your life. Maybe today God wants you to remember your love for Him and value your relationship with Him above all else.

Whatever the step, ask God to direct it. Take a moment to take that step. Invite Him to speak. He will.

Life is a long road. Walk it with Jesus. Take a step today… just one is fine.

Feel free to comment at the bottom of this page! We would love to hear from you!

*Leon, Morris, The Gospel According to Matthew. Pillar New Testament Commentary (Wm. B. Eerdmans, 1992), 462–464, and Keener, C. S., Matthew (Vol. 1, Mt 18:8–9) (InterVarsity Press, 1997).

one step: Matthew 18.2

Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea.

The picture Jesus paints of this horrifying death would have terrified the Jewish listeners even more than crucifixion. He describes a Roman punishment that the Jewish people rarely allowed.*

I have often used this verse as a warning to myself to take great care with those who are “little ones” either in age or understanding. Those who are new in their faith require special attention and answering their questions requires intentional care. Other times I have used this verse to comfort myself when hearing of injustices against children that I feel I can do nothing about. Knowing that Jesus sees, cares, and ultimately will not tolerate injustices toward little ones who believe in Him brings comfort.

There is another way to apply this verse, however.

Jesus just described those who enter the Kingdom as those who are humble, seeing themselves as low and trusting and leaning on Jesus as a little child must. What does this mean?

It means that Jesus cares for you in the way that He describes. For those who trust in Him as a little one, depending upon God for all of their needs, Jesus brings justice. Jesus brings justice because Jesus cares.

There may be a lot going on out of your control, and a lot of it may be outside of your view or understanding, but Jesus sees. Jesus is just. Jesus cares.

Today, take a step.

Maybe today the one step God wants you to take is to receive His love and trust that it will produce His justice one day. Perhaps God wants for you to rest in the fact that He loves you as a little one. Maybe today God wants you to stand up for a little one that you know. Perhaps God wants you to take more care with the little ones around you.

Whatever the step, ask God to direct it. Take a moment to take that step. Invite Him to speak. He will.

Life is a long road. Walk it with Jesus. Take a step today… just one is fine.

Feel free to comment at the bottom of this page! We would love to hear from you!

*Leon, Morris, The Gospel According to Matthew. Pillar New Testament Commentary (Wm. B. Eerdmans, 1992), 461–462, and Keener, C. S., Matthew (Vol. 1, Mt 18:6–7) (InterVarsity Press, 1997).

one step: Matthew 18.1

At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them and said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

Children during the time of Jesus, even more so than today, represented a picture of absolute dependence, trust, and humility. Children brought no knowledge, wisdom, leadership expertise, or fighting ability. They had to trust those around them to care for their needs.* Without the help of others, children had no hope.

Jesus answers the disciple’s question of Kingdom ranking with an invitation to mirror His humility with a humbling of their own. Jesus informs the disciples that to even enter the Kingdom one must recognize a severe dependence on God and an inability to contribute anything or care for oneself in any way. A trust in God must be adopted. In this, the greatest is the least.

In my own life, I have had glimpses of my own insignificance. In times that I think that I’m important, I find myself painfully overlooked. In times that I think I’m in control, something happens that derails my plans. When I think that I can fix a problem, I discover that I don’t have enough. Maybe you can relate. These times of difficulties are glimpses into our true need for God, and they are a gift. Unfortunately, sometimes the only time we will see this is when we are hurting or in trouble.

When was the last time you saw a conference that advertised an opportunity to learn how to be as insignificant as possible? Do leadership conferences coach on how to lower oneself to a lowly dependence and trust in God that only children can mirror?

We must not allow the corporate-climbing, hero-admiring culture of our day blind us with talk of strategy, logistics, statistics, metrics, and money. These things can be important in many contexts, but none are as important as the call to lower oneself. We must walk in the humble understanding that we need God for everything in our lives from the breath that we breathe to the goals that we achieve.

Want to be the greatest? Follow the one who lowered Himself to be the least (Philippians 2:5-8).

Today, take a step.

Maybe today the one step God wants you to take is to remember your dependence upon Him. Perhaps God wants you to point your heart toward being less so that He can be more in your life. Maybe God wants you to stop working, fighting, and pressing to achieve those things that He wants to give you.

Whatever the step, ask God to direct it. Take a moment to take that step. Invite Him to speak. He will.

Life is a long road. Walk it with Jesus. Take a step today… just one is fine.

Feel free to comment at the bottom of this page! We would love to hear from you!

*Leon, Morris, The Gospel According to Matthew. Pillar New Testament Commentary (Wm. B. Eerdmans, 1992), 456–460, and Keener, C. S., Matthew (Vol. 1, Mt 18:1–4) (InterVarsity Press, 1997).

one step: Matthew 17.5

When they came to Capernaum, the collectors of the two-drachma tax went up to Peter and said, “Does your teacher not pay the tax?” He said, “Yes.” And when he came into the house, Jesus spoke to him first, saying, “What do you think, Simon? From whom do kings of the earth take toll or tax? From their sons or from others?” And when he said, “From others,” Jesus said to him, “Then the sons are free. However, not to give offense to them, go to the sea and cast a hook and take the first fish that comes up, and when you open its mouth you will find a shekel. Take that and give it to them for me and for yourself.”

This exchange between Jesus and the tax collectors was more than a commentary on adhering to local rules and laws. In this moment, Jesus’ identity came into question.

The tax that Jesus paid from the mouth of a fish was the temple tax. It was required to be paid once a year to support the running of the temple. As Jesus points out, the sons of king’s do not have to pay taxes, for taxes come from those outside of the royal family. To pay this temple tax would imply that Jesus was not the Son of God (the authority over all, including the Temple and the people of God). Furthermore, priests were exempt from this tax, so to pay it would imply that He was not the Great High Priest of God (Hebrews 4:14). To refuse to pay, however, would create a conflict that would require a trial and could hurt his testimony to many including the tax collectors.* What could Jesus do?

Many times, our culture asks us to do one thing when our identity in Christ tells us to do another. The two can seem to serve as a fork in the road requiring a choice. To choose one is to reject the other.

Jesus presents a solution in this story that honors the request of the authority in the area while not abandoning His identity. According to local law at the time, a coin found belongs to no one. Therefore, the found coin paid the tax without actually coming from Jesus or from the money given to move His ministry forward. Thus, the tax was satisfied and the identity of Jesus as Son of God and Great High Priest remained respected.*

In this creative moment, Jesus saw a third option.

Too often circumstances and even the enemy try to convince us that there are only two options.

Today, take a step.

Maybe today the one step God wants you to take is to hear His voice on the third option. Perhaps God wants you to look for ways to honor local laws and authorities while maintaining your identity in Him. Maybe God wants you to remember who He is as provider, Son of God, and Great High Priest.

Whatever the step, ask God to direct it. Take a moment to take that step. Invite Him to speak. He will.

Life is a long road. Walk it with Jesus. Take a step today… just one is fine.

Feel free to comment at the bottom of this page! We would love to hear from you!

*Leon, Morris, The Gospel According to Matthew. Pillar New Testament Commentary (Wm. B. Eerdmans, 1992), 451–455, and Keener, C. S., Matthew (Vol. 1, Mt 17:24–27) (InterVarsity Press, 1997).

one step: Matthew 17.4

As they were gathering in Galilee, Jesus said to them, “The Son of Man is about to be delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill him, and he will be raised on the third day.” And they were greatly distressed.

When I have read this passage in the past, I have imagined scenes of Judas leading the Roman soldiers to take Jesus. I have pictured Jesus walked along the road, beaten and bruised, carrying the cross of my sin. I have imagined these things in error.

Yes, Judas lead the Roman soldiers to take Jesus (John 18:3), and yes, Jesus bore the cross of my sin. These images that come to my mind stem from the words “The Son of Man is about to be delivered.” This word delivered is the root of my error. This word delivered in the original language signals something very profound: it was God who delivered Jesus to the hands of men.*

The images I had were not complete. We must understand in this most difficult verse that the work of John 3:16 (where God gave His only Son) looked like delivering Him to the hands of evil men for death and resurrection.

The reality of this death hung heavy upon the disciples, and it may hang heavy on us today.

God calls us to do great and mighty works, and obedience unleashes His power. At times, however, as in the case of Jesus and many who follow Him, obedience looks like suffering. What do we do when obedience looks like suffering? What do we do when obedience hurts?

We must do what Jesus did: trust that resurrection is coming.

The disciples did not yet understand the resurrection. Had they understood, they would not have been distressed. While the death of your best friend via the cross is nothing to rejoice about, surely the resurrection of Him would outweigh the burden.

We must allow the promised resurrection in our lives and of our lives to outweigh the grief of the loss experienced in this life. This isn’t easy, but these are the types of things that the Holy Spirit loves to give us power to do.

Today, take a step.

Maybe today the one step God wants you to take is to obey Him even in the difficulty, pain, or suffering. Perhaps God is calling you to lay down an idol of comfort. Maybe God is telling you to trust in His resurrection power to restore, renew, and revive what is dead or what may die.

Whatever the step, ask God to direct it. Take a moment to take that step. Invite Him to speak. He will.

Life is a long road. Walk it with Jesus. Take a step today… just one is fine.

Feel free to comment at the bottom of this page! We would love to hear from you!

*Leon, Morris, The Gospel According to Matthew. Pillar New Testament Commentary (Wm. B. Eerdmans, 1992), 450–451, and Keener, C. S., Matthew (Vol. 1, Mt 17:22–23) (InterVarsity Press, 1997).