Can’t Afford To Be Safe

Acts 4:13 & 20 (NLT) - The members of the council were amazed when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, for they could see that they were ordinary men with no special training in the Scriptures. They also recognized them as men who had been with Jesus…We cannot stop telling about everything we have seen and heard.

I have a feeling this is going to be the scripture passage that took me from 2009 into 2010 and will continue to challenge me this year and beyond.  Yesterday was one of those days where I was reminded all day long.  At LATR church yesterday morning, Josh talked about the marks of people who are obsessed about Jesus.  We should be marked by unusual love (Jesus loved and gave His life because that love). We should be marked by faith – faith to be fully engaged, willing to take risks and of unusual sacrifice (again like Jesus).

Then last night, Jarron and I visited New Life Church and once again I was confronted with these thoughts.  The pastor talked about when he gave his heart to Jesus and was baptized, he experienced a transformation and passion for Jesus that led to a relentless boldness to share Jesus with everyone and anyone.  Then he said when he got older something switched, he started to be “safe” – he got married, he got a mortgage, he had kids, etc, and he discovered the boldness dissipating.  His descriptions resonated with me and then he referred to the Acts 4:20 where when Peter and John were basically asked to stop talking about Jesus, their response was that they can’t stop telling about Jesus and what He has done.

I heard a stat yesterday that motivated even more.  I found out that I was living in 4th most un-churched  county in the country.  I cannot afford to be safe anymore!  There are people all around me that have never heard and/or experience the love of Jesus.  It is no longer ok to be safe; it is time to be bold and be recognized for having experienced and been transform by Jesus.

Another encouragement and challenge as a part of a church plant was something else the pastor said – he had been struggling with the idea of membership and the number of people attending the church.  The idea of a church with a few thousand people attending being known as a mega church was not what he wanted anymore – he desires to see a church of mega missionaries; people who are outward looking and sharing Jesus with everyone.  I know it is the heart of Josh and mine to see our small community of people at LATR be mega missionaries and be concerned with growth that comes from people coming to know Jesus and be changed forever.

It is now time to live a marked life and not stop telling about everything we have experienced and seen Jesus do!