Are you Dangerous?

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I’ve never been much of a risk taker. My radar has typically been on high alert when it comes to whether or not there could be danger up ahead. The fear of the unknown, the wrath that others might inflict on me if I offend them, or those things that could knock me off course? Such things were to be avoided at all costs.

Danger? Not really my thing. But I am starting to see very clearly that I am called not only to be willing to face that which might be scary or foreign to me, but also to be dangerous myself.

You see, Jesus didn’t live a safe or comfortable life. He walked amongst those considered to be the dregs of society, shook the very foundations upon which the all-powerful leaders and lawmakers of the land stood, spoke truth that flew in the face of everything accepted as “politically correct” or culturally appropriate at the time, touched, hugged and healed lepers and others who had been shunned by everyone else, broke bread with sinners, ran off as a young child to go about His Father’s business, stayed quiet when He could have saved His own neck, spoke up when He knew it probably wouldn’t, and, all the way up to the very last breath – showed mercy and compassion  and offered salvation to the thieves, drunkards, and all the sinners of the world (uh-hem, that’s you and me) – past, present, and future.

Danger? It is Jesus’ thing.

Not everyone is called to or equipped to go out to war-torn countries to live dangerously for the Lord. We don’t need to seek out the criminals of the world, the drug dealers, the pimps, or the people fighting brawls in every bar across the land. Danger is present all around us – we just don’t confront it enough. We hide. We stay comfortable. We play the game that the world tells us to because “safety first” and “live and let live” are the mantras of our culture, our world. It’s a world that does not embrace Jesus, that’s for sure. But we have the opportunity to proclaim his truth daily – right where we are at.

God’s truth has been viewed as dangerous for the majority of mankind’s existence. Few want to hear it, live it, or face it, much less fully embrace it. His truth entails real change if we are to walk it, talk it, and live it, and most people don’t want any part of it.  Change isn’t comfortable. Right living? Not comfortable. Living for the glory of God versus self and making the occassional sacrifice for all that is good and right in the world?

D-A-N-G-E-R!

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I am reading a wonderful book right now written by Greg Laurie, called “Making God Known.” I absolutely love what he has to share about proclaiming the gospel. He says that we are to be “spiritually dangerous” if we desire to make an impact for the kingdom of God – and he emphasized that the Lord has asked us to be this way. And just sharing the simple, yet powerful message of the gospel with others, in whatever way that we can, makes us “spiritually dangerous” in this world in which we live. But it takes courage and a willingness to trust that the Lord will be with us every step of the way; empowering us, telling us what to say and do, carrying us through the darkness and over and through the obstacle courses that are part of the dangerous places in which we will begin to reside.

No, we don’t have to be scared, because Jesus is at the wheel as we venture off the highway and into the sidestreets of life. He will be the light for us in the wooded, dark areas, He will give us the gas that we need to keep moving down the road, He will be our signpost when we am not sure which way to turn, and He will guide our every action, thought, and word. He doesn’t promise us that we will come out unscathed; not at all. But He does promise us that He will never leave us.

For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe on him,
but also to suffer for him Philippians 1:29

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no
evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. Psalm 23:4

Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Deuteronomy 31:6

MattGruber via CreationSwap

We don’t have to worry if others feel offended, because we are looking at life in the face of eternity, not just this time we spend here on earth, and how comfortable we are while we are here.  I don’t know about you, but I’d rather have people feel a bit angry towards now – initially offended- uncomfortable- unsettled – than to have them cry out later “why didn’t my friend tell me about Jesus? Why didn’t she share how crucial this was and that I would spend eternity apart from Him if I didn’t make a decision to accept Him as my Savior? If she only would have told me! If she only would have cared more about my soul than her comfort!”

Mr. Laurie shares in his book, “People don’t convert people – the Holy Spirit does.”  Allow me echo that: GOD is the one who converts people – God and God alone! But He likes to use us to reach other people – He has His divine reasons for that. To do so, we have to be willing to take what the world might call risks. To do that, we must at times, be politically incorrect. To do that, we  have to be willing to take up our own cross, just as Christ has done for us, and not only carry it, but kiss it and embrace it – even when we think we can’t carry it one more step! And it can be done with the love of Christ – it can be done by speaking that truth of His in LOVE.

Then Jesus said to his disciples, ‘if any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross, and follow me’. Matthew 16:24

If we are going to follow Jesus, there is going to be danger involved. But He is with us.

It is then up to us to obey His command – We are to share Christ with others, in love, yet boldly too. It’s up to us to proclaim the gospel and the truth. It’s up to us to be willing to live dangersouly for Jesus, and to be committed to that and faithful to Him every step of the way. And we will have to face worldly dangers in order to be “spiritually dangerous” for the Lord – lots of them!

If you are wanting to be more of a risk taker for Jesus, listen to that inner voice and just do it!  Jump in armed with the word of the Lord and the power of the Holy Spirit. Find the ways that you can use the gifts the Lord has given you to proclaim the good news of the gospel, to sing His praises, and to bring others to Him so that He can do His work within their hearts and souls.

And lest you are wondering if you have what it takes? God is who qualifies you to do this. You don’t need special skills or a degree in theology to do it. He chose fishermen and tax collectors to carry this out when He picked His own disciples over 2000 years ago.

Aaron Dailey via CreationSwap

Let me share something with you about  being dangerous for Jesus:  Is it going to be anxiety-producing at times? Yes. Are people going to reject you for it? Yes. Could you lose a job, a position, a special invite, a friend over it? For sure. Are people going to laugh at you, ridicule you, shun you, or even worse, beat you up for it in every way imaginable? Probably.

But again, you can take heart in this: You are not alone…….

Remember the words I spoke to you: ‘No servant is greater than his master.’ If
they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching,
they will obey yours also. John 15:20

And if you haven’t already accepted Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord, are YOU feeling led to do something dangerous, what might you do to join us in this adventurous life that God has in store for you? I will share that with you below, so PLEASE read on!  I must tell you, if you make the decision to follow after Christ NOW, you will enter into a dangerous earthly life, but, in reality, you will truly be safer than you have ever been before – because your life will now be spent eternally with Him, not apart from Him. And Hell is very real, my friends – really, it is. Hell is the ONE danger that I, personally, want to avoid at all cost!

How do I obtain salvation through Jesus Christ and accept Him as my Lord and Savior? It’s not complicated at all. The Bible tells us that we “all fall short of the glory of God.” Because of that, we must………..

Acknowledge that you are a sinner and in need of forgiveness. Sin is anything that falls short of the mark of holy perfection. No one is perfect, and utterly holy but God – so we are all sinners. We need our sins to be forgiven so that we can no longer be separated from God.

God sent His only son, Jesus Christ to pay the penalty for our sin…………..

Believe in Jesus and recognize that he died on the cross for your sins, was buried, and rose again on the third day. He is alive and He paid the penalty for OUR sin.

We must turn away from that sin and turn towards Jesus and accept the fact that it is by “grace and grace alone” that we are forgiven………….

Repent from your sin – We must admit we have sinned and sincerely wish to turn away from it. We can ask Jesus to then forgive us of those sins, and He promises to do so.

We then need to invite Him into our hearts and lives and ask Him to save us and be the Lord of our lives………..

Pray to accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior – you can pray something similar to this below, but realize that you can use your own words and the Lord will hear you:

Jesus, I know that I have sinned and am in need of your gift of salvation. I realize that what I have earned of my own doing would be death and separation from You. I do believe that You died in my place instead and I ask that You forgive me for my sin.I realize that only You can save me and offer me forgiveness, I cannot do this on my own. I repent of my sin, and reject it from my life; I truly desire to turn away from it and change directions with you. Jesus, please come into my life, remove my sin, and show me how to make you the Lord of my life. I wish to live a life that is pleasing to you.

Jon Romero via CreationSwap

If you just prayed this with a sincere and believing heart, you are now saved by the blood of Jesus Christ! You are ready to start being spiritually dangerous. And you will spend eternity in heaven with Him!

Please go to the homepage of this blog and click on the page entitled “Salvation through Jesus Christ” for more information and suggestions on things you can do to start to grow in your personal relationship with your Savior! You need to begin to arm yourself for the wonderful adventure you are about to embark upon as you start to follow after a life with Christ!

Bruce Jennings via CreationSwap

And if you are already a Christian who loves your Savior and has made Him the Lord of your life – are you ready to start being spiritually dangerous? Take up your cross, and take the first step. There’s someone far stronger than you are that will help you to carry it if you grow weary.

Danger? Never really been my thing. Until now.

I am glad I have others to keep me company along the way.

“Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.” Matthew 4:19

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