(This week’s devotions are based on Sunday’s message: Win the Day…Cut the Rope – LISTEN HERE)
Are you a risk taker?
Most polls of Americans indicate that a majority of people are risk-averse. People want a safe, secure path on which to travel. Many stay in a job because it provides stability in life and income. Most investors choose safer and more reliable returns on investment rather than vehicles that have a higher risk. Many don’t travel or move because of the risk of the change.
The old saying is true, “No risk…no reward.”
But too often we are willing to compromise the reward because we don’t want to take the risk.
Elisha Otis took a risk. When he stood three stories off the floor at the World’s Fair, he was counting on his security mechanism to catch the lift before it plummeted to the floor. Until people saw the rope cut and the lift catch after only falling a very short distance were people willing to purchase an Otis elevator and have it put in their building.
To be sure, Otis took a calculated risk. He had developed and tested the mechanism to ensure it worked. So when he put it on display for the crowds at the world’s fair he took a risk, but a calculated one.
In our Christian life we can be risk averse. We can play it safe and not let it be known too far and wide that we are a Christ-follower. We don’t want to lose a friendship, lose a relationship or lose a job because people find us to be Christians. We evaluate the risk of letting on we are a follower of Christ and can easily give into the risk and keep our faith to ourselves.
Let’s allow three men from the Old Testament to encourage us to take a risk, to cut the rope of our personal securities and rely on the promises and truth of God’s promises. Shadrach, Meshack, and Abednego took a calculated step of faith. They were faced with denying the Lord or burning in the furnace. They knew and trusted their relationship with the Lord and so they were willing to risk defying Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon. Here’s what happened:
Daniel 3:16 Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. 17 If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king. 18 But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.”
The calculated step of faith was a risk, but it was a risk based on the time-tested, promises of God and putting the priority of the Lord first in their lives. The reward? Not only did the three survive, but the presence of God was realized as the fourth individual in the furnace and the testimony and influence of the Lord spread in the court of Nebuchadnezzar.
None of this would have happened if they didn’t take a risk and take a step of faith.
We have the same and more testing of God’s promises to rely on in our life today than the three did 2700 years ago.
So, with confidence in the promises of God, let’s cut the rope of our human securities and step boldly and confidently in faith with full reliance on the promises of God.
Apply: What situation am I facing today that God is inviting me to take a calculated step of faith based on his certain promises? What is the promise you will rely on as you step forward?
Prayer: Lord thank you for your time-tested and alway secure promises. Help me with your Spirit to cut the rope of personal security and rely fully on the security your promises give. AMEN.