Taking Reasonable Risks

2020-05-03

The early Christians risked their own lives for the cause of the Gospel. If there was fear of failure, we do not see any record of it. A lot of the “failure” that Christians had were actually blessings. Even Jesus was rejected by most. The religious and political leaders did not believe in Him. He was tortured and died. One modern rabbi referred to Jesus as a “failed Messiah” because of His death and because he thought He only had twelve disciples. He would be right if Jesus did not rise from the dead.

For centuries, Christians suffered for the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Paul enumerated his “successes” as things the rest of the world would consider failures (2 Corinthians 10:23-27). Even boasting of these backward successes is considered folly... because whether “success” or “failure,” the Christian life has nothing to do our success or failure.

Father, the flesh is very much alive. Great fear takes us so that we cannot take reasonable risks to further the reach of the Gospel. I am not exactly sure what I am afraid of. Perhaps I am not even engaged enough in Spiritual things to see Your leading.

There is no room for fear of failure or desire for success in the Christian life. There is no room to self-protect or self-promote. “Whosoever shall seek to save his life shall lose it; and whosoever shall lose his life shall preserve it” (Luke 17:33). There is no self. “I am crucified with Christ” (Galatians 2:20). It is Christ only. “Not I, but Christ” (Galatians 2:20).

Proclaim the Gospel. Seek to know Jesus Christ. Live for eternity now.