Taking RisksNäide

THE TIME IS NOW

In the late 18th century, a self-educated cobbler took a risk and shared his dream to reach India’s people with the good news of Jesus Christ with a few spiritual leaders. One seasoned pastor called him a “miserable enthusiast” to his face. But the courageous young man held onto his dream.

He pressed on, and the result of the risks he took was not meager. After much learning and years of toil, he translated the Bible into forty languages. He began a university that exists today, and he died seeing the subcontinent of India rocked with the gospel—his dream lives on, and millions of lives have been impacted by the risks he dared to take. His name is William Carey. He is famous for this epic challenge: “Expect great things from God; attempt great things for God.”

People who say Christians shouldn’t take risks have diminished the gospel. The Bible is loaded with risk and risk-takers. We have the gospel today because someone took a risk for our sake. It’s time to agree with God that faith is an adventure, and you’re ready to take a walk. Taking risk is a central theme in deliverance stories, new discoveries, and all of God’s promises. Risk-taking is not an invitation to recklessness, ignoring the truth, or rejecting wise counsel. But taking risks is the joy of God’s kids who want to walk by faith.

When we feel frail, God loves to show Himself faithful. Any notion that God paints a general picture of a more abundant future and then abandons us to stumble along is flatly untrue. William Carey leaned into God as he risked what others thought to be fantasy. Nothing gives God more joy than moving you from where you stand today to taking courageous and bold steps tomorrow, and ultimately realizing the promises that He gave you.

In this five-day study, we’re going to see how God does some of His most significant work through risk-takers. We’ll look at the example of Joshua to see what steps we can take toward faithful risk-taking. You can believe God to use you significantly or settle for self-focused mediocrity, but you can’t do both. It’s time to take a risk.

HOW TO TAKE THAT RISK:

• What have you believed about risk-taking in your life? Are you naturally a risk-taker or a risk-avoider? Have you ever thought about what God’s Word says about taking risks?
• Pray and ask God to prepare your heart for the rest of this five-day study.