What does it take to put first things first on a regular basis? To put your beliefs into practice when it’s easy to do so and everyone else is doing it is… well… easy. But what about when it’s tough to Worship, Connect, Grow, Serve or Share? Especially that last one? As I’ve talked with many people over the last several weeks, it seems that “SHARE” is often the hardest and most convicting of the priorities.
It takes consistent intentionality, but also courage.
What does it mean to be courageous? Last week, I heard some speakers and had some experiences which have converged for me in an interesting way.
At the Catalyst West conference last week (a 2-day gathering of pastors and church leaders, especially focusing on the next generation of leaders), the overall theme was “Take Courage .” The enduring John Perkins (who looked and sounded as strong and insightful as when I last heard him speak in 1984), gave a message of hope, forgiveness, and said that “courage is doing one’s convictions in the face of fear.” Christine Cain (my pick for the most fiery preacher of the group) urged that “if you operate out of fear, you will say no when God says go.”
The consensus favorite message was the keynote one delivered by Andy Stanley. In a personal and direct way, he focused on three “simple acts of courage that could be tipping points for something extraordinary.” He said that they are: “1) the courage to stay when it would be easier to go; 2) the courage to go when it would be easier to stay; and 3) the courage to ask for help when it would be easier to pretend that everything is OK.”
Here is the point of convergence for me.
Last weekend we also began our missions conference at Rose Drive. We support many missionaries around the world who are doing incredible work. These men and women have said “YES” to God and were willing to GO when it would have been easier to stay. Courageous. In addition, we commissioned and sent out pastors Mark and Stacey Kim and Jesus Friends Community Church – our newest daughter church – who will now begin meeting in Brea at the ECCU building (where we started Friends Community Church 8½ years ago). Courageous. They are reaching the Korean-immigrant and Korean-American community around us that we could never reach, but they have left (and are again leaving) a place of relative comfort to do so. Consistent intentionality and courage combined. Wow!
How about you and me?
It takes courage to step out and invest in a relationship with a neighbor or co-worker. It takes courage to begin to pray for them and then to invite them to church or to tell them your story of your relationship with Christ. But God can help you and me to do it. It takes courage to pray and take a step of faith to give financially, above and beyond your tithe, to support missionaries and church planters who are similarly taking steps of faith to go. God can help you and me to do that, too.
When it comes to sharing Christ (and the other priorities), bottom line, courage is saying “yes” to God whatever He asks you to do – to go or stay, give, invite or pray – it’s putting your faith in Him. Let’s do that this week!
Jim - The timing of your words is especially appropriate with what is going on in Japan. The "Fukushima 50" - the 50 employees who stayed behind to try to avert a disaster - are working with the knowledge that they are giving their lives for their fellow man. Jesus said that no man shows greater love than when he is willing to lay down his life for his friends, and certainly the Fukushima 50 exemplify this truth. Not many of us will be called upon to physically die for a friend, but each day we are called to lay down our lives in many other ways. It does take courage, day by day.
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