Don't be fooled by small beginnings. Don't despise those first faltering steps.
Usain "Lightning" Bolt is the fastest man on the planet, but he crawled before he stood, tottered before he walked, and walked before he ran. For that matter, Shaquille O'Neal looked up long before he looked down.
A week ago I was in Sorocaba, Brazil, celebrating the birth of a new church with a group numbering almost 300. The evening was grand in every way: the testimony of God's work, the celebration of worship, the crowd, the mood, the food! The night was BIG, but the church started SMALL.
Three years earlier four people with a vision for Sorocaba asked a pastor in a neighboring city if he would send a church planter to their bustling metropolis of 600,000. The church planting pastor--Renato Camargo--came to Sorocaba with a vision, four friends, and the promise of Jesus to build His church.
What is one man's efforts among a city of 600,000? But Renato took a step.
Renato's work for the Lord calls to mind another person who ventured to a new city. Ruth was the daughter-in-law of respected but heartbroken widow whose name was Naomi. Returning to Bethlehem after a ten-year exodus, their husbands were dead, their pockets were empty, and their spirits were sagging. Ruth could have stood still. She could have allowed herself to settle into that comfortable chair of self-pity, but she took a step instead.
Now Naomi had a relative of her husband's, a worthy man of the clan of Elimelech, whose name was Boaz.And Ruth the Moabite said to Naomi, “Let me go to the field and glean among the ears of grain after him in whose sight I shall find favor.” And she said to her, “Go, my daughter.”So she set out and went and gleaned in the field after the reapers, and she happened to come to the part of the field belonging to Boaz, who was of the clan of Elimelech. Ruth 2:1-3 ESV
"So she set out." In other words, Ruth took a step.
I imagine most people paid scant attention as Ruth set out. The world around her busied itself with daily affairs. No one noticed. No one cared. But Ruth took a step. She ventured into the field of Boaz. In the process, she discovered his favor and God's.
Boaz married Ruth. Their child was Obed, the grandfather of King David.Oh the adventure of those who venture to take a step!
What step will you take today?