Risky Love
8 April, 2011
Pastor Brian spoke a phenomenal message last weekend on RISK. For some reason his message triggered a memory of when I was growing up. I was waiting in a line for a ride at an amusement park. The ride was called the "Snowy River Rampage", it was one of my favorites.
One of the things I noticed in the line while waiting for this ride was a big sign that said "Warning". It went on to outline all of the ‘risks’ of riding the River Rampage.
To be honest, I calculated and read through every warning and after careful consideration (and some pump factor from friends) I decided to risk it all and go on this ride. The main reason I kept risking it everytime was simply because I loved it. You could call it ‘risky love’.
I often see my calling in God - to share His timeless, matchless and most amazing message - like this. There are so many risks, warnings, fears that come with being able to share His message. It seems so easy to sit back and let someone else ‘ride’. There is a fear that says "what if I get rejected?", "I don't know what to say", "I might get laughed at", "I'm only ...... If only.....they might say no". This list could go on...
For me personally, I see it as risky love and I want to ride this wild ride and I believe that this same risky love lies within you too. This is one risk that you will constantly be in tension with. It's the tension of the Spirit saying take the risk and reach out to the lost and the tension of the flesh offering all the warnings to put you off the ride.I have discovered sometimes you just have to live dangerously and risk it all.
I remember a few year ago I was working at a clothing retail store and an opportunity to share Jesus with a customer came up. I had to, in a few short seconds, weigh up all the risks of telling and showing that person about the love of Christ. You'll be glad to know that I stepped out and risked it, for 2 hours we talked about Jesus and by the end of the conversation the customer said to me "I have never heard anyone talk about Jesus, the way you have talked about him...there is something different about you".
That customer over the next few weeks kept coming back in to ask questions, hungry to know more. The customer became a friend, came to church with me, met Jesus, got connected and then went to Bible College for a year. Wow, a life transformed just because I took a risk. It was risky love.
Whenever I have the opportunity to take a risk and I feel afraid or uncertain, I always take courage when I remember it was first God who ultimately came up with the concept of risky love. He had no guarantee that we would say yes when he sent Jesus for us. He took the ultimate risk. Would we reach back when He reached out? Would we say yes or no? However He did know that if He never took the risk, then a transformed life (like your's & mine) would never have been possible.
Jesus was the ultimate example of risky love and my prayer for you as you read this is, that you too would lay your life down and risk it all for the cause of His beautiful message by shouting it louder.
I would really love to hear your stories of sharing your faith. Please respond below, leave a comment and together we can encourage others as they also read this blog.
Much love,
Brenden
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