A risk worth taking (Part 3)

This is the third part of the series on ‘A risk worth taking’ and will be the final part to our looking at this subject. I do hope the previous 2 sessions have encouraged, and that God has spoken to you through them. I was eager for people to really understand the importance of being empowered by the Spirit in part 2, I felt this was vital and leads on well into this session. Through this final part I want us to lift up our eyes, to gain a bigger vision of God and of what Jesus has already done for us through His life, His death, His resurrection and His Ascension. That we are not meant to be in deep thought with ourselves every time we come across a potentially risky situation or opportunity, weighing up whether it is worth it, of course not. We want to have the courage to say ‘yes and amen’ in God, to follow the lead of the Holy Spirit and to have our eyes fixed on Jesus, giving Him the glory through anything in part we may do.

The price of risk and the victory of Jesus

There are two parts I want to touch on here, first is the price of risk. We all too often look upon this from a human level, a human perspective, we weigh up things and ask to ourselves…is it worth the risk? Will I be paying for this one for a long time? Will I look stupid? Will I lose friends if I do that? Will I be branded a joke at school or at the workplace if I don’t go to that party, or do that thing? Whatever the risk is for us, we seem to automatically look at the price, the cost of doing it. My wife and I recently uprooted everything and moved from the UK to Canada, why? Because Jesus spoke to us and made it clear that He had plans for us in Canada. When I looked at this from mans perspective it not only at times looked high risk but it also looked unwise, renting out our flat, resigning from both our good, well paid jobs, leaving close family and friends. Why? You may ask again, God spoke. It changes everything.

Obedience is a massive issue. God calls for obedience even when it hurts. We made the decision that it would be far too risky to not step out, to not obey God. He has plans, purposes and promises for us here. The greatest thing of all is that God then receives all the glory, not us. Jesus is our ultimate example in this, In Philippians 2:5-11 we read that it was Jesus who made Himself nothing, humbling Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. When we lift up our eyes, we realize that we need to take on God’s perspective, an eternal view on what’s before us. If we have decided to say yes and amen, and believe that the Spirit empowers us and leads us, the cost of risk always becomes worth it. Looking at things this way we can say, Lord have your way in me, I want your will to be done, not mine or my own agenda. Let us take what look like risks and let them take the form of opportunity.

The second part of this is the victory of Jesus. It is ever so refreshing to know it’s not down to me, or us but that the victory has been won, that Jesus has done it all. Victories aren’t won by us, they are won by and through Jesus. We are now able to live life in Him, alive in Christ, it’s breathtaking. It is by grace, which truly is lavished upon us, day after day after day that we can be part of this victory, that we get to join in on this one. Whether you currently are facing small risks or big life defining risks, we must approach them in the same light, because of the victory of Jesus we can move forward. We can go for broke for we know that it is all for God’s glory, that we get to gloriously spend eternity with Him.

What is God speaking to you about today? Is He calling you to live a life of risk? He has guaranteed the victory of Jesus. It is amazing for me to look around at some of my friends, my family who have chosen to live lives which take risks for God. Their stories speak of God’s goodness and faithfulness in every situation, for some of them life has been hard, is hard today and have hard times ahead because of the risks they have taken for God. I know that if they started it all again, their response would be the same, of course Jesus I will live this life for you whatever it entails.

1 Corinthians 15:57 – But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

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