Living Dangerously

“When we heard this, we and the people there pleaded with Paul not to go up to Jerusalem. Then Paul answered, ‘Why are you weeping and breaking my heart? I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.’” – Acts 21:12-13

Naturally, most humans are risk-averse. If bad weather blows up before a hike, I will most likely cancel my hike. If I heard that sketchy people were hanging around my destination, I’d most likely change my plans. Sometimes, God does guide us toward safety and protection. But this is where His wisdom comes in, because sometimes, He calls us to walk straight into the perceived danger.

A friend of mine moved to Florida after school to do mission work with her roommate. When they arrived, they heard that three women in their neighborhood had been shot and killed that week, and that night they heard cars stopping outside their house, accompanied by gun shots. This would have been enough to make anyone turn tail, but they chose to stay. They knew God had called them to that “undesirable” neighborhood and they formed many beautiful connections because of it.

This week, our missional community group read in Acts how a prophet named Agabus tells Paul that if he continues on his journey to Jerusalem, he will surely be bound and handed over to the Gentiles. “When we heard this, we and the people there pleaded with Paul not to go up to Jerusalem. Then Paul answered, ‘Why are you weeping and breaking my heart? I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.’” – Acts 21:12-13

What risk is God prompting you to take? Maybe it is time to claim the courage you have in Christ and choose to live dangerously for Him.