Are you a risk taker or do you play it safe? I would have to say I am somewhat of a risk taker. I like a little adventure. I haven’t always been this way, but I’ve learned without risk of failure, there isn’t the opportunity for success.
God challenges us to be risk takers. He wants us to take the leap of faith, trusting in Him to see us through life.
Hebrews 11:1 says “Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” The word faith is found in scripture 246 times, but only 15 of those are in the Old Testament. Jesus is the source of our faith. It is part of the fruit of the Spirit He gives to us. If you think about it, when we have Jesus on our side why not risk.
Peter is one of my favorite disciples. He is so passionate in all he does, and sometimes it gets him in trouble, but he isn’t afraid to take a risk if there is a chance for growth. In Matthew 14:22-32 we see evidence of Peter’s willingness to risk. He saw Jesus walking on the water and he wanted to do it too. Good grief, who wouldn’t think it was cool to walk on water?
Could you imagine riding in a boat for a couple of hours and then looking up to see Jesus walking towards you on top of the water? Peter’s response wasn’t “Wow, I wonder how He’s doing that?” or “What took Him so long?” Peter’s response was that of a risk taker…”Hey, can I do that too?”
When we take a leap of faith, not only are we saying we’re willing to fail, but we’re saying we believe in Jesus enough to think we will succeed. Moses did this when he stood before the Red Sea with the Egyptians hot on his trail [Exodus 14]. Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego took a leap of faith into a furnace, trusting in God to deliver them. They refused to bend to an idol and were willing to put their faith in God and risk their lives for Him. In Daniel 3:17 they say “If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the furnace of blazing fire; and He will deliver us out of your hand, O king.”
What is God calling you to do today that would be a risk? Has He asked you to pray for someone’s healing? Has He asked you to stand up for something before a group of people? When He asks you to step out boldly in faith, He will not leave you alone. Peter discovered this, Moses discovered this and so did Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego. Will you?