In Daniel 6 and Acts 4 three ordinary men risked everything for God. Daniel was caught praying to God after it had been outlawed and was thrown to the lions (literally). Peter and John healed a lame man and preached the truth of Jesus to the crowd that gathered. They were quickly thrown into jail by the religious people of the day. In Daniel’s case the whole nation ended up praising the God who held closed the lions’ mouths. In Peter and John’s case, 5000 people came to follow Jesus. In both cases, the men risked everything. Daniel was stripped of his position and sentenced to die. God intervened and he was saved. Peter and John were thrown into jail and released, but would eventually be martyred for the cause of Christ.
They risked everything…and changed the world. I wonder if when you risk everything for the cause of Christ you’re really risking anything at all. People certainly won’t understand you. But that’s ok, who would expect them to? I think God doesn’t call us to safety, living out our faith behind closed doors.

I think He calls us to risk.
Risky lives filled with adventure.
Filled with the adventure of serving Him.
Serving Him for HIS glory, not our own.

Maybe that’s the hard part. Giving up our own glory. Daniel was stripped of his position in government. Peter and John were mocked by the religious people of the day (they still exist today). We want the story to be about us.

That’s why we love stories. We love books, TV, movies, video games (we actually get to BE the hero)…it’s written on our hearts. We love to hear stories of ordinary people doing extraordinary things. God called our whole species to more…to stories that matter…

But we have to give it all up first.

“Immediately they left their nets and followed Him.” (Matthew 4:20). Peter and Andrew just left everything to follow Jesus. Do you wonder if they worried about their financial security? Did Jesus offer dental?

Something in them drove them to follow Him.
Immediately.
Without question.
Without reservation.

They risked everything…and changed the world.

What are we risking for Him? What have you done this week that REQUIRES faith? It’s a humbling thought…

This morning (09/13) I felt prompted to kneel down and pray during the first service while the bands were finishing their sets. I’m not sure why but I just felt nervous about the tech for this service, specifically something during the start of the message. As I got on my face before God and prayed hard that He would spread His love during this service, I felt like I needed to go upstairs to the Crow’s Nest immediately. I went up just in time to help my director trigger the recording for Stage 123 and immediately noticed something was wrong. At some point this morning a simple BNC cable for camera 4 died, leaving the camera dull and lifeless on screen (like a weird black and white). Quick action and some spare cables (which I bought for next to nothing on a whim) helped us minimize the effect and fix the problem. How strange is it to feel prompted by God? Strange. How cool is it to see prayer answered right before your eyes? Very cool. I hope and pray that God will continue to prompt me and that I will be still long enough to hear Him. Also, never forget to turn off your screen saver before the service.