Risky Business Pt. 2

Yesterday I kicked off a series of posts about risk with the idea that maybe, just maybe God wants to bring some risk into our lives and that it's not His job to keep us safe and secure all the time. Risky territory is faith territory.

So my question is what happened to the church on this one? When you look at the New Testament church in the Book of Acts they were definitely risk-takers. In fact, look at what Paul says in Acts 20...

However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace. Acts 20:24

In other words, following Jesus and "completing the task" means putting my very life on the line. That's where Paul lived and it's where the New Testament church lived on a daily basis. They weren't playing it safe. They were in risky territory.

I'm pretty convinced that's still where Jesus wants his church to be today - in risky territory. Unfortunately, for many churches today the greatest risk they'll take is painting the women's bathroom green instead of blue! Or worse - buying new carpet instead of new choir robes!! Oh my!! Wouldn't want to tick off the choir, now would we?

That's one thing I've always loved about NHC - we're willing to take risks. I've sat in leadership meetings where we looked at each other and said, "We don't have the money for this, but God wants us to do it so we're going for it!" Every time we have stepped out and took the risk God has met us there. I remember once saying, "If it doesn't work we'll go out in a blaze of glory." We took a risk but we didn't go out in a blaze of glory, and God GOT the glory!

That's why God leads us into risky territory. It's all about Him getting the glory. When we're in unsafe, unsecured territory we have to depend on God. If he doesn't show up we're dead meat and that's where he gets his greatest glory. We can't take any credit so he gets it all!

NHC, we have not been called to play it safe. God is not glorified when we're safe and secure. He's glorified when we say, "God, we'll do whatever it takes...we'll go wherever you say to go...we'll do whatever you say to do...we're all in!"

I have no idea where God is ultimately taking us, but one thing I know for sure - God is asking us to take some risks...to go places we've never been before...to lay some things on the line...to go to another level of ministry that we've never seen before.

It'll be risky territory...faith territory. I'm nervous, but I'm so excited I can't see straight! Lord, lead us into risky territory!

More tomorrow...