Bible Readings: Luke 14: 26-27, Philippians 3: 4-9
I like risks but for something truly believe in.
But this, arrghhhh!
It was Tough!
I must be out of my mind.
Here I was in the midst of a people I didn’t know, chasing a wild ‘GO’.
Before now, I would consider myself a risk-taker but this was risking everything for the sake of evangelism.
Still longing for the protective wings of home but sometimes friend, God calls you for an impossible-risk!
He was 75years, with a comfortable life among his brethren, his family and friends.
Then God says ‘Come to a land which I will show you’ Genesis 12:1
Life is interrupted
Schedule is shifted
Path is Detoured.
Plans are changed
That’s what God did with Abraham.
He took him out of the familiar.
From known to unknown.
He called him to leave everything behind and follow him to a place where He, the Lord would show Abraham.
That’s Risky!
Based on his age, financial status and family stability, Abraham had lots of excuses he would have made.
Deep thoughts here: What is Jesus asking to leave behind?
When Jesus asks you to follow Him, leave everything and Come…….Mathew 4:19
He calls you to risk everything.
He calls you out of the comfortable
He brings you out of the convenient.
He makes you count the stars.
He makes you consider the sea shore.
He makes you follow the uncharted.
I don’t know you and I won’t pretend that I know half of what you’ve gone through but I tell you this….everything you have, memories, good stuff bad stuff, you will have to risk everything to follow Him!
Peter asked Him, now we ie. the disciples, have left everything and followed you, in essence what do we hope to get in return.
Maybe your heart is saying….
For all my sacrifices, what will Jesus do for me?
Is Jesus worth my lifetime of sacrificial follow?
I imagine Jesus responded with a smile, You are getting a hundred fold in return.You are getting all these things back times one hundred.All this is not for naught.. Matthew 19:27-29.
Sounds, great right?
But for someone who holds tightly to things, you are going to learn to let go of all that stuff for the sake of the gospel.
You let go in order to grasp what matters most.
When we lose our lives for Jesus, we will gain it back
For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.
Matthew 16:25
If we must truly follow him we have to choose between him and everything else!
So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple. Luke 14:33
Ponder on this: Can you give God what you cherish most?
Are you able to lay down your all for Jesus?
Everyday our eyes open to these choices.
To choose the world or to choose Jesus.
To let go of the baggage we carry or To hold tightly to Jesus.
For you to risk all,
You will need to brave even when you don’t feel like it.
You are going to be prepared to take him at His word,
You will be ready to follow until the very end,
You will say goodbye to the world and not look back,
You will reach for the deepest and long for it hard.
You will be the The risk-taking, fear-fighting, persistent die-hard follower, undetered disciple.
You are the God Dare
Apostle Paul in Philippians 3:4-9, recounts all his achievements, his accomplishments but all these things became a loss that he may gain Christ and that he may be found in Christ.
But the rich young man thought he had it all.
He thought his life was somewhat complete without Christ.
But the one thing he would hate to miss was ‘his all’ -> his wealth, his charisma, his fame, his comfort, all of that stuff
He weighed the sacrifice and soon realised he couldn’t afford the cost.
He entrusted his heart on all the things he had.
There was no space for Jesus in his heart.
He calculated the risk and thought it was way too expensive.
The price to pay was costlier than expected.
He could not afford to risk his life’s work and wealth.
He was no gambler and no means a risk-taker.
He wanted to play it safe by choosing the comfort and pleasures of the world over Jesus.
I sigh!
Quick Question: What is Jesus worth to you?
He did not wait to hear that it was a worthy investment.
Following Jesus is a great bargain.
Not only do you have a 100 fold of your investment, you gain eternal life.
What deal could be worth more than this?
Jesus invites us to risk everything so we can gain it back with an hundred fold return on our initial investment.
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, thank you for the power in the Word. Thank you for the assurance we have in you. I choose you today and forever. I recommit to choose you above all else. Help me to be a steadfast follower. Help me to stand no matter what for you, Jesus. Thank you Lord for this invitation in Jesus name. Amen
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