Each morning after breakfast and each night before bed, we met and had Bible study, and primarily, I took us through the last three chapters of Not A Fan by Kyle Idleman. Those last three chapters are titled, Whenever, Wherever, and Whatever, and Idleman talks about the cost of following Jesus.
I couldn't recall my source when I talked about this, but I remembered reading something CONVICTING about our constant prayers for safety, as if safety is the greatest thing in life. Our desire for safety probably keeps us from following God to lots of places He's trying to lead us. We think, "God doesn't want me to do that! It's DANGEROUS!"
If Jesus was primarily concerned about our safety, He never would've sent the Twelve Disciples out. He didn't promise them physical safety. Instead, He told them:
Matthew 10:16-21 “Look, I am sending you out as sheep among wolves. So be as shrewd as snakes and harmless as doves. 17 But beware! For you will be handed over to the courts and will be flogged with whips in the synagogues. 18 You will stand trial before governors and kings because you are my followers. But this will be your opportunity to tell the rulers and other unbelievers about me.[e] 19 When you are arrested, don’t worry about how to respond or what to say. God will give you the right words at the right time. 20 For it is not you who will be speaking—it will be the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.
When we got back home, I located my source:
From Crazy Love by Francis Chan, p. 133:
"Haven't we all prayed the following prayer? Lord, we pray for safety as we travel. We ask that no one gets hurt on this trip. Please keep everyone safe until we return, and bring us back safely. In Jesus' name we pray, amen. The exact wording may vary a bit, but that is the standard prayer we recite before leaving on mission trips, retreats, vacations, and business trips."
"We are consumed by safety. Obsessed with it, actually. Now, I'm not saying it is wrong to pray for God's protection, but I am questioning how we've made safety our highest priority. We've elevated safety to the neglect of whatever God's best is, whatever would bring God the most glory, or whatever would accomplish His purposes in our lives and in the world. "
"Would you be willing to pray this prayer? God, bring me closer to You during this trip, whatever it takes . . ."
People who are obsessed with
Jesus aren't consumed with their
personal safety and comfort above
all else. Obsessed people care
more about God's kingdom coming
to this earth than their own lives
being shielded from pain or
distress.
Not that I agree with everything any author says, but Chan's words are powerful and convicting, as are David Platt's in his book, Radical. If you have the book, see pages 164-165 and 174-175. Platt also talks about following Jesus in spite of the risks and dangers, in spite of the fact that it might get us hurt or killed.
John F. Kennedy once said, "Do not pray for easy lives. Pray to be stronger men."
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