Barnabas and Saul are “men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Acts 15:26)
“Priscilla and Aquila, my co-workers in Christ Jesus. They risked their lives for me. Not only I but all the churches of the Gentiles are grateful to them.” (Romans 16:3-4)
Epaphroditus “almost died for the work of Christ. He risked his life to make up for the help you yourselves could not give me.” (Philippians 2:30)
When we look at the life of Jesus, we find it is FILLED with risk-taking. He talks to a questionable woman at a public well (John 4); He declares Himself to be Isaiah’s fulfillment in His hometown (Luke 4); He chooses to save one man and then drowns hundreds of pigs (Mark 5); He embracing lepers (Matthew 8); He challenges the Pharisees (Mark 3) and He denouncing cities (Matthew 11).
He has regular fellowship with tax collectors and sinners (Luke 5); He protects a woman who has been caught in adultery (John 8); He lets the rich young ruler go when Jesus has ministry bills to pay for both himself and his followers (Luke 8:2-3; Mark 10); He cleanses the temple (Matthew 21); He confronts religious leaders (Matthew 23); He embraces the cross when He knows the pain that would be involved (Mark 14) and hundreds more times. Wow!
Throughout his ministry, Jesus risks his life…again and again and again. It is interesting that in the New Testament, we find the story filled with people who follow this example of Jesus and do the same thing. Barnabas and Saul, Priscilla and Aquila, Epaphroditus and countless others who risk everything!
My friend, Pastor Elias Betanzos, pastors the largest Nazarene church in North America, with multiple campuses across the city of Oaxaca, Mexico. He shared this with me about risk-taking:
“To laugh is to risk appearing the fool.
To weep is to risk appearing sentimental.
To reach out for another is to risk involvement
To expose feelings is to risk exposing your true self.
To place your ideas, your dreams before a crowd, is to risk rejection.
To love is to risk not being loved in return.
To live is to risk dying. To hope is to risk despair.
To try is to risk failure.
But risks must be taken, because the greatest hazard in life is to risk nothing.
The person who risks nothing, does nothing, has nothing and is nothing.
They may avoid suffering and sorrow, but they cannot learn, feel, grow, love and live.
Only a person who risks, is free.”
Thank you for being willing to follow Jesus and take wise, strategic risks just like He did. We also want to say a big thanks for all your church is doing to take positive steps forward by focusing on the basics of what the Lord has revealed to us for a healthy future:
Mobilizing everyone in unity
Blessing your community
Bringing people to Jesus
Becoming Christlike disciples
Also, thanks for serving so well on the Chicago Central District. Let’s continue to be Christ in Action. You are loved.
Larry McKain, Superintendent
Chicago Central District
Church of the Nazarene