What's the Risk?

We all agreed to choose some men 
and send them to you
with our dear friends Barnabas and Paul—
men who have risked their lives 
for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Acts 15:25-26
RDK 2012
"Madam, that is incredibly dangerous," says the young man raking gravel smooth in preparation for a new concrete sidewalk. Is he crazy? I walk past him on the pebbles: the busy road has no shoulder on the other side.

"I live in Indonesia. This would be considered amazing paving." I take three more steps and am back on cement.

 Behind me, he talks to a coworker in the maintenance truck. "She says she lives in Indonesia. Whatever."

 What is wrong with us, that an adult has to be warned against stepping down four inches from a sidewalk onto a level gravel walk? Our fear of hurting ourselves and each other ("lawsuit, lawsuit!") is making us silly about avoiding danger of every kind.

 So, what are you afraid of?
Are you willing to take risks for your beliefs?

 What is God asking you to do?
Is God's plan for you worth more to you than your safety? Why or why not?
So then, welcome him in the Lord with great joy, 
and honor people like him,
because he almost died for the work of Christ.
He risked his life to make up for the help
you yourselves could not give me.
Philippians 2:29-30

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