Playing it safe

Someday I need to search for all the people in the Bible who were asked by God to leave something significant: their jobs (Matthew, Peter), their homes (Abraham), whatever. Then I need to search for all the risks that people were asked to take. Not many of the people who followed God ended up playing it safe. I remember dens of lions, fiery furnaces, confrontations with leaders, and riots, among other things. Then I need to read over how many times God said, "Don't be afraid." It's funny how much I want to hold on to what I have (house, job, income), play it safe, and still follow God. When I think about anything else, I get a little afraid. Safety isn't always part of the package, at least in my Bible.

Comments

[kevin]

Hmm... I wonder how much of my desire to find "routine" is really a desire to find safety? I've had a number of safety nets taken away from me, recently. Yet, God is working amazing things in me. I wonder what, exactly, those safety nets are protecting us from?

[David]

Why is it even when we know this it's so hard to let go of those things that make us feel so secure?

[hamo]

Yes - I believe the most common phrse in scriptures is 'fear not'. That's gotta say something!

[Mark W.]

I heard somewhere that the fear of abandonment, something felt in early childhood, is the root of all other fears. If you can accept deep within your heart and mind the fact that God will never abandon you, then you can escape from your comfort zone.