live by faith, take risk

At the end of our lives, our greatest regret will be the God-ordained opportunities we left on the table, the God-given passions we didn’t pursue and the God-sized dreams we didn’t go after because we let fear dictate our decisions.  Mark Batterson, Chase the Lion, page 4

That quote comes in many different shapes and sizes as you read various authors.  It all ends with the similar premise that fear overtaking faith leads to not going after the best that God has for you.

Acts 15:26  NLT

who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

The writer of Acts said that some people literally risked their lives for the sake of Christ.  Those were many different kinds of risk.  Some included the possibility of death.  Most spoke of the loss of reputation or position.

Hebrews 11:32-40 talked of people who would not turn away from God in spite of the possibility of trouble ahead, no matter the trouble.  Some where Christian martyrs because they died.  Others experienced great hardship.

What is the similarity of all these?  They chose to live by faith, to take risk and to follow God.  Our key to success is not climbing the corporate ladder or filling several bank accounts.  For the Christian success is marked by steps of obeying God, one step at a time.

2 Corinthians 5:7  NASB

for we walk by faith, not by sight

Are we willing to take risks to live by faith?  Often that risk doesn’t include the lose of life.  It might giving of some time or something we have in the pantry of our house.  It might be speaking up where you would rather be silent.  It might be giving something when you would rather hoard what you have.

Yet taking a risk and living by faith may be the very thing that God is calling you and I to.  What if, Batterson would say, your greatest achievement is right behind your greatest fear.

Chose today to take a risk and to live by faith!