“What will you do next?” Remember years ago, an advertisement campaign for an amusement park caught famous people and athletes at moments of great triumph and asked them, “What will you do next?” In each case, they informed the waiting world of their plan to travel to Florida to go to a theme park. Pardon me for thinking, there must be more!
While God’s people waited together for the promised Holy Spirit, constantly praying, Peter stood up and spoke up. With Judas Iscariot gone, only eleven of the original twelve disciples remained. Judas had shared in the ministry before he became a guide for the ones who arrested Jesus. With Judas gone, the church needed to find another leader to take his place. As they prayed, God revealed to Peter through the scriptures that the church needed another witness.
As followers of Christ, we should not be surprised if God speaks to us through his word as we pray. When people fail and fall, God still moves the church forward. How do we know what we are to do? We pray and we listen to God speak through his word.
Our worship this weekend reminded me of my first sermon before the whole church at Rhein Valley Baptist Church in Waldorf, Germany. It was in the fall of my freshman year in High School. I preached from several texts the acronym: G.R.O.W. I had four points in my seven-minute sermon. “Go to God in prayer daily. Read God’s word. Obey God’s voice. Witness to others about what God has done for you.” Almost half a century later, those words still ring true. What will we do next in this new year? G.R.O.W. As we talk to God, God is talking to us. Let’s do what he says!
