Three weeks ago we looked
at the scriptures to see that God was encouraging us to take risks in our
lives: Risks not for personal gain, or
to impress others, or to be seen as heroic, but the scriptures encourage us to
take risks for the glory of God!
We investigated at least three different types of risk God was calling
us to take. They were:
#1 God is asking
us to take risks in authentic relationships with other brothers and
sisters so we can be in a place where confession and admonition are given and
received.
#2 God wants us to take risks with our financial
resources as Jesus continually pushed His disciples to free themselves from the
constrictions of excess money. Since
that time I found this quote which has been helpful for me in regards to this
risk: “There are different varieties of giving: There is the flint which gives off sparks
when struck hard; there is the lemon which yields juice when it
is squeezed; the rose, orange blossom, jasmine, gardenia,
and mint (to mention only a few) release fragrance of ‘their own accord.’ Should not every person ask himself, ‘To
which of these groups do I belong.’”
#3 God wants us to take risks in the
opportunities we have in our daily lives to bear witness for Him so others may
see and hear of His grace and mercy.
Our main text three weeks
ago was Luke 21:1-13. Later on in this
text we read this warning from Jesus: “Some of you will be put to death” (verse
16), and later he says, “not a hair
of your head will perish.’ (verse 19). To
me these sound somewhat contradictory, and I encouraged you to look at this on
your own. This Sunday we will try to see
what God is saying in these words.
If time allows read the following
passages to try to receive from God His perspective of what Jesus said to the
people of his day.
- Read Daniel 3:8-30, the familiar story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego as they faced the fiery furnace. Pay close attention to verses 13-18 as our three brothers seize the opportunity to “bear witness to God’s grace and mercy.”
- Our Romans passage quotes from Psalm 44. Read through this trying to see who is to receive glory, what types of “affliction and oppression” we may encounter, and for what reason is glory to be seen.
- Romans 8:35 uses the words “tribulation, distress, persecution, famine, nakedness, danger, and sword” as challenges to be faced in the midst of risks we take. Do you see any of these today in your life, and how do you respond when you experience them?
I thank you for the privilege of
being with you this coming Sunday, and look forward to our worship together.
