October 7
DebDay 207: So We Don't Have To
Acts 9 tells us of how Saul of Tarsus was blinded by the light of Jesus's presence around him. Blinded for 3 days. God calls a faithful old saint named Ananias to pray over Saul. In spite of Ananias's own, legitimate misgivings.
And Saul regains his sight. Something like "scales" fell from his eyes, and he could see again. But differently. Because Ananias has also prayed for Saul to be "filled the Holy Spirit."
The Lord had told Ananias to go pray over Saul, because Saul was a "chosen instrument." He would proclaim the Name of Jesus to all kinds of people. And, Saul would suffer much for doing so.
So here we have two men. Saul, whose life has been radically altered, changed by the reality of Jesus; and Ananias, who trusted Jesus to protect him while being obedient to obey the command to approach Saul and pray over him. Risky business for both.
All of us are risk-aversive. Threats are just that; threats against our sense of safety. Our safety is threatened whenever our life's predictabilities are altered. Our innate desire for self-preservation is threatened whenever we sense the specific calling by our Lord to go, to be, or to do something.
Threats force us to accept and take risks.
When any of us feel the nudges of the Holy Spirit, we tend to sit still, hoping the feeling goes away. Or we look for lots and lots of confirmations (like guarantees from God, through other people or circumstances.)
Or more likely, we just sit on it, procrastinate, hoping for more favorable conditions. Because we are risk-aversive. And the Holy Spirit has a knack for forcing risk on us.
If you are a believer in Jesus, a disciple of Jesus, you've already taken, and survived a great risk. You've decided to follow Jesus. You have agreed with the gospel, and made this life-altering commitment, all while you could have chosen someone or something else to believe in and follow.
Our culture follows the hopeful promises of government. Or the scant possibility of our society returning to pre-Covid norms. Or the notion that if we're all "kind" to each other, that'll fix every ill.
But our culture's responses are all dependent upon the cooperation of others, without requiring much of the individual. We hope others will accept risk, so we don't have to do the same. We just want to be around to enjoy the benefits.
But the reality of the gospel is that to believe is to be changed, not into a "better you," but into a "new, transformed you." The reality of the gospel demands allegiance and obedience to the Lord and King of the gospel.
And that always comes with risk. A risk not everyone who claims the Name of Jesus is necessarily willing to onboard.
All the while, hoping someone else will accept the risks and do the gospel work...so we don't have to.
-Mike Rydman, Lead Pastor, Radiant Church | Juneau
