Photo Credit: Dhammika Heenpella / Images of Sri Lanka Flickr via Compfight cc

Have you ever had to take a risk? Most of us can quickly recall a time or two when we were involved in taking a risk. Perhaps it was for our company, for a relationship or maybe even some type of financial risk. Despite the nature of the risk, the decision to take the risk was difficult because we didn’t know how things would work out.

If we are Christians, then we should be in the business of taking risks for the sake of the Gospel. Think about it for moment. When is the last time you were willing to take a risk to possibly spread the message of the Gospel? Sadly, for some of us, we might have to think long and hard about the answer to that question.

Being a Christian requires us to take risk if we are to fulfill the work of the Lord. Consider the apostle Paul. Paul was repeatedly warned about the dangers that were awaiting him in Jerusalem if he continued to travel that direction (Acts 20:22-23; 21:4, 11-12). Perhaps, this would have been a good time for Paul to hunker down or at least to avoid going to Jerusalem, but that’s not who he was. Paul was not fearful, he was fearless.

Instead of backing down and avoiding going to Jerusalem to help the Christians, Paul fully intended to go no matter what he had to face. Paul told the brethren in Caesarea, “What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be imprisoned but even to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus” (Acts 21:13).

Did you catch what Paul said? He is not only ready to face imprisonment for the sake of Christ, but he’s ready to die for the name of the Lord Jesus. Paul, knowing full well what laid ahead in Jerusalem, continued with his plans, willing to assume all risks.

Like Paul, we should be willing to fulfill the mission of our Lord despite any risks we may have to face. Imagine how different our churches and communities might look, if followers of Christ were willing to assume all risks for the sake of spreading the Gospel message. If we did this, we just might have the same type of impact on the world around us that the apostle Paul had!

Now that’s Something to Think About!