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.