TAKING RISKS

 

SHEPHERD TO SHEEP

TAKING RISKS

(Mat 14:28-29) And Peter answered Him and said, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.” 29 So He said, “Come.” And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus.

Taking a risk. Taking a risk means the possibility of harm or loss. Isn’t that just what life comes down to sometimes? It makes you feel shaky but you know you have to do something. You weigh it out. You look at it from all the angles. You ask people’s opinions. But when it comes down to it, nobody can make that decision but you. What do you do when you’re in the arena of decision making and the risk factor is pressing hard into you mind and soul? Let’s take a look at Peter in the Bible. He took a risk one day and what happened can speak volumes to our lives.

Jesus had sent the disciples away on the boat while He sent the multitudes away. He said He would catch up with them later. He went up on the mountain to pray. But while he was praying a stubborn storm hit the Sea of Galilee and the disciples were struggling getting the boat to shore. In the fourth watch of the night (3am-6am) Jesus came to them walking on the water and they thought He was a ghost. Jesus assured them it was Him and that they were not to be afraid. Peter then said that if it was Him then to command him to come to Him on the water. Jesus said to come and the next thing you know he’s walking on water too. But after a while it hit him what he was doing and he became afraid and began to sink. He cried out to the Lord and Jesus saved him from drowning. Jesus rebuked Peter for his lack of faith and for doubting and then calmed the sea. The disciples were blown away and declared their faith in Him.

The story of Peter is the story of us all. Sometimes life does come down to a risk. But the question is, how do you know if you are to take that risk or not? I believe the answer lies in the prompting of Jesus. Peter sought the Lord about the possibility. Jesus prompted Peter to come. Peter got out of the boat and he did float. (First surfer?) Surely we are not to do anything rashly or foolishly (Isa 52:12; Eph 5:15) or presumptuously (Psa 19:13). We are to pray about all things and get the go-ahead from the Lord. Getting godly counsel is also a good idea, especially with weightier matters (Pro 11:14). But when all is said and done and we feel we have that green light from the Lord, we are to step out and take that risk.

The big question is what if I fail? Well, you just might. All good people have risked and failed but that failure has been the very thing that eventually made them successful. If you hide in the safety zone all your life and never take a risk, that would be the biggest failure of all.

Think about the risk God took on us. God gave His only begotten Son. Would any believe and receive this costly and gracious gift? We did. That proves that when God is in it, risk produces results without regrets.

Louie