No, not me, this is about Mark Mittelberg again who wrote this chapter.
He tells the story of a true adventure. He had some old friends who planned a hunting trip out in the Badlands and at first, he decided not to go. Then all of a sudden while out with other friends eating pizza, he changed his mind, realizing that these old friends needed to hear his story of conversion. He convinced a friend who was a pilot to fly him out there and drop him off on a remote unmanned airstrip. From there he took off with very little gear searching from country roads. He didn’t actually find his friends so he was forced to hole up in his sleeping bag that night and the next morning he was awoken by a gruff rancher with a gun. Well, the rancher softened and eventually let Mark come to his home, eat breakfast, and this started a faith sharing adventure as well.
So here’s the question, what’s the biggest risk you’ve ever taken for God? Have you ever gone out on a limb for Christ? Done something that seemed kind of crazy- like a completely selfless act of service? Forgiven someone for some real offense against you? Put together some kind of an outreach program that people said just wouldn’t work? Talked to someone that not only wasn’t a Christian but who’s made it clear they don’t want to hear about it? There are a million possibilities.
We’re not talking about complete foolishness here, but God does call us to take some risks too. Think of the words of Paul as they’re quoted at the end of this chapter.
“I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my own countrymen, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false brothers. I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked. . . I consider my life worht nothing to me if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me- the task of testifying to the gospel of God’s grace.” (2 Cor. 11:26-27; Acts 20:24)
