Risk is Right

Dear Friends,

I just read Risk is Right by John Piper.  You can find the free pdf here.

So what do you think?  “Risk is right.”  True or false?  A natural response would be “sometimes.”  Don’t we always want to respond to true/false questions like this?  We introduce ambiguity and end up pausing, pondering, rationalizing, wondering, and wandering.  Basically, we’re paralyzed.

I wonder if you would consider that risking for God is always right.  Always.

Esther did not know that she would live to speak to the king.  She did not know that God would save her people.  But she did not wait around wondering if it was worth the risk.  She committed to try.  She asked her people to join her in 3 solid days of prayer and fasting, saying, “If I perish, I perish” (Esther 4:16).  Similarly, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego did not “go with the flow” and bow down to the king’s statue while they pondered what to do.  They remained standing, saying, “Our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the furnace of blazing fire… But even if He does not, let it be known to you, O king, that we are not going to serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up” (Daniel 3:17-18).  In both cases, even if they died on the spot, they were right to risk.  Not for their valor.  But because of His value.  And for His glory.

“The paralyzing fear of making a decision serves no one.  It is cowardly.  Risk is the only way forward” (20).

When people don’t risk, opportunities are wasted.  Time is wasted.  Lives are wasted.  (Remember the generation that wandered in the desert instead of taking the risk and entering the promised land?  See Numbers 13:31-33.)  If we are in Christ, we can risk and should risk knowing that nothing can separate us from His love (Rom 8).  Short-term success is not promised.  But eternity with Jesus is promised for those who believe.  The end of the story is already written:  Jesus is coming back.  A crowd too great to count will praise Him.  Every nation and language will be represented (Rev 7:9).

We should decide now:  is risk right?

Sincerely,

Katie

Indiana Jones

Dear Friends,

Have you had an Indiana Jones moment?  Maybe you have followed God on a path, confidently adventuring through the caves of life knowing He will guide you step-by-step.  But suddenly, you come to a screeching halt.  You realize He’s led you to a cliff!  The next logical step is into sheer darkness.  Let’s say you are afraid of the dark.  And afraid of heights.  And kind of afraid of dying.  You are literally facing your worst nightmares.  You pause, hoping to hear God’s encouraging voice:  “Don’t worry.  I am with you always.  Forward is the right step.  Trust me, I’ll catch you.”  But there’s only silence.  You feel alone.

I have been there.

I felt crazy, but I chose to step forward.  I am glad I did.  I celebrated incredible relief like Indiana when I found I wasn’t actually falling into darkness.  Instead, I was on solid (yet still treacherous) ground.  God knew what was best.  He could see in the dark.  He was there when I couldn’t see or feel Him.  In this, I proved to myself that I was willing to fall off the cliff and face fear to stay the course.

“The Lord directs the steps of the godly.  He delights in every detail of their lives.  Though they stumble, they will never fall, for the Lord holds them by the hand.” -Psalm 37:23-24 NLT.

Sincerely,

Katie

Off the Map

Dear Friends,

Sometimes it’s nice to go off the map.  I think it’s pretty bold, honestly.  Christopher Columbus and his crew took a serious risk leaving friends, family, and home.  Everything familiar would be out of reach.  There was no guarantee of return.

I realize Chris is kind of a poster boy for going “off the map,” but there are others.  Even today there are people moving in faith to places “off their map.”  People with friends and family and jobs leaving it all.  Some of them have motives like Chris:  fame, thrill, wealth.  But others have motives for Christ: love, truth, eternity.

Sincerely,

Katie