Happy New Year! Can you believe it is 2012? It seems like just a couple years ago we were dealing with Y2K. Time flies by so fast. As Scripture says, “Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom” (Ps. 92:12). When you realize that you have a limited amount of days, it makes you wiser, because you know they are precious – you will either waste them, spend them, or invest them.
Speaking of Y2K, do you remember the panic that it brought to our world? Fear ran wild. It crippled and paralyzed people. People did crazy things. Scripture tells us that God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, and of love and a sound mind (2 Tim. 1:7). FEAR stands for False Evidence Appearing Real, and it is one of the enemy’s greatest weapons, because it keeps us from taking risks.
That is why God tells us 365 times in Scripture, “Do not be afraid” or “Fear not.” And here’s the good news: It’s not just a command, it’s followed with a promise – “Fear not, for I AM with you.” I AM? Yeah, THE GREAT I AM . . . I AM whatever you will need, to face and do My will.
I was with a group of pastors a few months ago, and one of the questions they asked me was this: “How do you nurture and develop your growing and vibrate faith?” I said I wish I could tell you it is because I spend 4 to 5 hours a day in God’s Word. I wish I could tell you it is because I pray 3 to 4 hours a day. Instead, I told them that I practice two very important spiritual disciplines: 1) I ask God what He would have me to do this year; 2) If God doesn’t provide and move, I will fail for sure. This causes me to live with a sense of God’s presence in my life every day. It drives me to hear from Him (Bible) and talk to Him (Prayer). It leads me to live a life of the miraculous.
This is the life that Jesus Christ calls us to live. Jesus tells a story in Luke 19:11-27 (be sure to read it) where a Master gives money to three of his servants and tells them to "invest this for me while I am gone.” He comes back and finds that two risked and one played it safe. He rebuked the one who played it safe and said, “Risk your life and get more than you ever dreamed of. Play it safe and end up holding the bag" (v. 26, MSG).
So let me ask you a question: Are you going to play it safe in 2012 and end up holding the bag? Or are you going to risk and get more than you ever dreamed? The choice is yours; the consequences are not. Take a moment and ask God what He would have you risk for His kingdom. You don’t want to stand before a Savior who has nail-pierced hands and feet and a pierced side and say that you played it safe.
Welcome him (Epaphroditus) with Christian love and with great joy, and give him the honor that people like him deserve. For he risked his life for the work of Christ . . . (Phil. 2:29-30).
