Romans 16:4 NLT
In fact, they once risked their lives for me. I am thankful to them, and so are all the
Gentile churches.
Every
day there are challenges that we face.
Some we chose to take. Some we
step around or avoid. The challenges
often demonstrate the character of the person who takes them.
Challenges
come in all kinds of sizes and packages.
Some take great effort on our part while others take only slight
adjustments. The fact is that challenges
are part of life, and when we make an effort to accept them no matter what the
challenge requires of us, we will leave stronger and ready for more.
I
crave challenges. Do you? I am not talking about challenges such as sky
diving or driving your car over 100 miles an hour. I am talking about challenges like a mission
trip, being part of an extended fast or taking a leadership position in the
organization you volunteer with. Some of
the challenges that God allows to come into our lives come with risks. Some of them have more personal risks, inside
of our hearts or our checkbooks or calendars.
The
challenges that I’ve accepted in the last few months have been exciting. They might not be biggest or longest
challenges but have brought some exciting new things into my life. I talking about some of these challenges: to
give more to ministry, to fast for a longer period of time, to read more (when
I so dislike reading), driving a real race car at over 120 miles per hour, to
preach in a different way for an extended period of time. You might not think much of these challenges,
but several of them have been taxing on my life. Some of brought huge results. Some have left me wanting more challenges.
You’ve
probably been where I’ve been at one point or another. Do you ever remember climbing to the top of
the high dive at the swimming pool or to the top of a tall cliff to jump into
the water? I don’t like those kind of
heights. But jumping is exhilarating. Challenges leave me wanting more especially
when God is in the middle of them.
God is
calling us to take some risks, to accept the challenges and allow Him to work
in the middle of our lives and the situations we are part of. God gives us resources not only to care for
our and our families needs. God gives us
time so we can love Him and love our neighbors.
Challenges are the opportunities that God brings into our lives so that
we can impact more people for Him.
Take
the challenge. Lose a little sleep to do
what God leads you to do. Give more than
you have given before. Step up like
you’ve never attempted before. Watch God
work and use the risk you’re taking. One
last thought about challenges … if you want to follow God, realize that God is
calling us to the normal, exciting and abundant life. He is not calling us to the nominal, boring
life that many Christians say is normal.
Take the challenges that God sends your way!
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