Moving at the Right Velocity

THIS WEEK’S BOLD STEP DEVOTION

“He said to them: ‘It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.’”
(Acts 1:7–8)

Have you ever glanced at your speedometer while driving and realized how easy it is to go too fast—or too slow—without noticing? If you’re moving too fast, you risk a ticket, and if you’re moving too slow, well, that has never really been my problem. I still laugh when I think about my mother getting a speeding ticket at 70 years old and even having her license suspended for a month. It reminds me that movement matters, but what matters even more is moving in the right direction and at the right velocity.

When I read the opening chapter of Acts, I’m reminded that Jesus never designed His church to settle in one place or stay inwardly focused. Instead, He instructed His followers to wait for the power of the Holy Spirit and then be moved outward from Jerusalem to Judea and Samaria, and ultimately to the ends of the earth. This is the heartbeat of the church: a people called out, filled up, and sent out, living with divine urgency and purpose. Anything less than this kind of Spirit-empowered movement falls short of what Jesus intended for His people.

Yet this kind of movement does not begin with activity; it begins with a call. And that call is deeply personal for each of us. Before Jesus ever sent His disciples, He first invited them to follow Him, and in that invitation their entire lives were completely redirected. Whether it was Peter and Andrew leaving their nets or Matthew walking away from his tax booth, their response was immediate and decisive because they recognized the voice of the One calling them.

That same invitation still stands today. Jesus calls us to come close to Him before we step out in His name, to walk with Him before we work for Him, and to surrender fully before moving forward in His mission. When we truly respond to that call, our lives begin to move with a different kind of velocity, one driven not by pressure or performance but by obedience and the empowering presence of the Holy Spirit.

Bold Step Challenge:
Take a moment to honestly evaluate your spiritual pace and direction. Ask God to show you where you may have slowed down, sped ahead in your own strength, or settled into comfort. Then choose one clear step of obedience this week that aligns you more closely with His call and mission.

Prayer:
Lord, thank You for calling me into a life that is not stagnant but full of purpose and movement. Help me to hear Your voice clearly and follow You wholeheartedly, not rushing ahead of You, but walking in step with Your Spirit. Fill me afresh with Your power so my life reflects Your mission. Lead me to move at the right velocity, guided by Your presence and anchored in obedience. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Listen to the sermon: The Call to be a Movement People

Part 1Part 2

Ministry Update from Mark

My wife, Dee, and I are still celebrating all that God did over Easter at New Life Church, where I have the privilege of serving as founding pastor. It was a full and powerful weekend that left us both a little tired, yet deeply grateful for the way God moved in and through our church family.

Across New Life, we saw thousands gather in person and online. But more than anything, we continue celebrating stories of transformed lives and people saying “yes” to Jesus. Many took their first steps in following Christ, while others returned home to the One who had been calling them all along. God is moving, and we remain humbled and honored to be part of what He is doing.