Dangerous Obedience

Have you ever had to do something you thought might cost your life? How about your heart?

I have.

But nothing like some of the amazing men and women my daughters and I are reading about right now. We're studying the Reformation and have just finished books on John Wycliffe, Martin Luther, and are breezing through a book on William Tyndale right now. These men lived in constant threat of losing everything they held dear.

Why?

Because they loved the Lord and wanted to see His Word in the hands of every person in their native language. They refused to quit doing what they knew God had created them to do.

Reading about their lives strengthens me to live mine. Far smaller scale than theirs, but I’m pretty okay with not having governments and religious institutions seeking my demise.

Unfortunately, there is someone out there seeking to derail, destroy, and ruin our lives and the work God is doing in and through us. The enemy of our souls often seeks to discourage us from our work just like he’s done throughout history.

This past Easter my husband and I bought The Passion of the Christ. I couldn’t make myself watch it again after having seen it in the theater, but I’ll never forget it either. One scene stands out as my very favorite.

It’s the beginning of the movie where the snake is slithering between Jesus’ feet one minute, and then the next Jesus crushes the serpent’s head under His sandal.

I love that. In one fast clip I’m reminded that while our enemy may still be slithering around us trying to destroy, Jesus once and for all crushed satan with the cross and resurrection.

That truth doesn’t mean obedience isn’t dangerous though.

It is.

Often times it costs far more than we think.

And yet, for all that dangerous obedience costs, it gives so much more.

The greatest benefit I’ve seen to dangerous obedience is that in risking my heart and putting myself out there through forgiveness and writing, I’ve come away with a cleaner heart and a clearer picture of Christ.

The paradox of obedience never ceases to amaze me. Giving something I cannot keep or truly call mine for the sake of gaining something I can never lose is both the wisest and scariest choice I’ve ever made.

A choice I’m forever grateful that Martin Luther, John Wycliffe, William Tyndale, and others made. Because from their dangerous obedience we have in our hands God’s Word in just about every language.

And we have the record of lives lived well for the glory of God.

That’s what I want to see when I look in the mirror.

What will our dangerous obedience cost? I imagine many of us can answer that with painful stories of personal loss.

But what about the countless benefits we can’t number for those who will follow in our footsteps?

What will they see when the story of our lives are recorded in their memory?

I pray they’ll see Jesus. And maybe, just maybe, they’ll be inspired to choose the cross path too.

Sure they’ll see our stumbles and the many times we didn’t choose well. But even then, they can still see Jesus as He picks us up and uses every bit of our journey for our good and His glory.

Be encouraged. Nothing in our lives is wasted when we place our hands in His and chose the path of dangerous obedience.

I really like this Jim Elliot quote: “God always gives His best to those who leave the choice with him.”

Dangerous obedience. What do you think? Is it worth the risk?