If our Life Groups (Sunday School) at our church we are using a curriculum that uses a workbook called Divine Encounters in the Old Testament published by Clarity Publishers. The workbook is for our class members to work on during the week in their personal Bible study and it prepares us all to participate in discussion on Sundays. We are walking through the OT (at times in giant leaps) and this week our lesson is on Rahab. Each week of study starts with a question to ponder during the week. I am posting this week's question here and really want your comments to use for this Sunday...for my class girls as well as anyone else who happens onto this blog this week!
Here it is --
Does God really want us to take serious risks?
What do you think? Can't wait to see...
Jeanette
3 comments:
God provides us with tools, grants wisdom when we seek it, and commands in Great Commission that we launch into the depths of the earth. Hebrews 11 lists risk takers. I believe God calls us through the Holy Spirit to take serious risks for a closer walk, to increase faith, and to empower us with boldness that brings out His best in us. He may send us abroad, strip us financially, test our physical health, challenge our relationships simply to determine if we will follow and obey.
Juanita B
I agree with Juanita (well put!) but I also believe that God wants us to take risks to learn to depend on Him. Sometimes it's easier than at other times, sometimes you do wonder if you understood or "heard" right but always in the end if you take the risk God has got your back, without a doubt. The more risks you take the more you realize how awesomely He loves you...and it makes me more humble to know that I truly don't deserve His full, merciful backing. TH
Yes, God definitely expects us to take serious risks! Many times as Christians we give God our plan and ask for His stamp of approval when the plan He has is so rich and rewarding...but we don’t know all the details or the end results and must look to Him turn by turn, day by day, and step by step, not following our own agenda. Dr. David Jeremiah gave a great sermon on KCBI about ‘Becoming Jesus’ Disciple’ and said a true disciple of Christ: 1- Answers the call to obedience (Jn. 14:15, I Jn 5:3, Luke 6:46); 2- Attempts great things for God (meaning being involved in things greater than I am and doing things I could never do on my own); 3- Adopts a life of adventure (not a life of comfort, not a promise of ‘no tough times’, but a promise that He will be with me). When Peter took Jesus out in his boat & Jesus told him to go out into the deep & cast out their nets, this was totally opposite of what the fisherman by trade knew would work. The fish settled in shallow water at night, so they usually fished at night, but Jesus told them to go out into the deep water in the daytime and cast out their nets. Their nets were not even large enough to reach into the deep water, but nevertheless, when Simon Peter was obedient, God gave a catch so large he had to have help from another boat, & their boats began to sink! (Luke 5:1-11) Being a disciple is not just getting up every day and reading our Bible, but sometimes living on the edge and placing our resources in jeopardy; 4- Acknowledges their dependence on God. The disciples saw things that could not be explained because they obeyed - things so beyond human expectations that only God could get the credit. When we take what looks like “risks” in man’s eyes as we follow the Lord, God does it! 5- Accepts his or her assignment from God. If we only do what we can do, we only get what we can get, but when we lock into what God can do & are personally involved in His work, we go places we could never go in our own strength & see awesome achievements by His power. God told Peter, James & John in the Luke 5 passage what He would do; they were going to be privileged to be a part of it. We are encouraged in our Christian purpose and have less fear when we realize “It’s all Him!” and when we yield to and follow Him wholeheartedly. We will have His heart and a burning in our own hearts to share and serve. 6- Abandon all alternatives. Peter & his companions immediately “left everything and followed Him”. Likewise, we leave what is important by the world’s standards, what seems safe, and our priorities are shifted. What was once the center of our life and purpose is moved to the margin of our life.
Though this teaching may sound extreme to those who do not know Christ, we know we are happiest, fully alive, focused on what is important - the two things which are eternal, the Word of God and the souls of men. If we only do what we can do, we can not be true disciples. We must get ‘out of ourselves and into Him’. Will there be challenges? Storms? Times of struggle? Yes! But following Jesus becomes the passion of our lives - risky, but the greatest thrill! MimiA
Post a Comment