Risking It All: A Call to Step Out of Comfort and Into Faith

Have you ever felt stuck in the monotony of life? Wake up, eat, work, sleep, repeat. It's easy to fall into routines that leave little room for God to interrupt us or use us in unexpected ways. But what if there's more to life than this? What if God is calling us to risk again, to step out in faith, and to allow Him to do something fresh and new through us?

The story of Jesus calling His first disciples provides a powerful illustration of what it means to risk everything for the Kingdom of God. Picture the scene: seasoned fishermen, exhausted after a long night of fruitless labor, are cleaning their nets by the shore. Suddenly, Jesus steps into their boat and asks them to push out a little from the shore so He can teach the crowds. Already, we see Jesus interrupting their plans and routines.

But He doesn't stop there. After finishing His teaching, Jesus tells Simon Peter to go out into the deep water and let down the nets for a catch. Simon, probably skeptical and tired, responds, "Master, we've worked hard all night and haven't caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets." This moment of obedience, despite logic and experience saying otherwise, led to a miraculous catch of fish so large that their nets began to break.

This story challenges us to consider: Are we open to being inconvenienced by Jesus? Are we willing to be obedient even when it's uncomfortable?

Often, we pray for God to use us, yet when the opportunity arises, we find ourselves too busy or too comfortable to respond. We need to cultivate a heart that says, "Lord, here I am, send me. I'm available to be interrupted." It's about shifting our focus from our plans to God's purposes.

C.S. Lewis wisely noted, "Interruptions are not obstacles to our plan, but they are opportunities for us to embrace God's plan." How often do we miss out on divine appointments because we're too rigid with our schedules or too focused on our own agendas?

The fishermen's story also teaches us about obedience in the face of doubt. Jesus asked them to do something that didn't make logical sense – fishing in the middle of the day when the fish were deep in the water. Yet, their obedience led to a miracle. This challenges us to trust God's authority even when His instructions seem counterintuitive.

Obedience often pushes us beyond what feels natural, logical, or comfortable. It may cost us our pride, our finances, or even our perceived image. But on the other side of obedience lies transformation – both in our circumstances and within ourselves.

After the miraculous catch, Jesus gives these fishermen a new identity and purpose: "Don't be afraid; from now on you will fish for people." He invites them into a vision for their lives far greater than they could have imagined for themselves. They leave behind their nets, their boats – everything – to follow Him.

This radical response prompts us to ask ourselves: Have we truly left everything to follow Jesus? Or have we settled for a comfortable, convenient version of Christianity that doesn't require much of us?

Jesus never promised an easy life for His followers. In fact, He said, "Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it" (Luke 9:23-24). There's a cost to following Jesus, but He assures us it's worth it.

Living a life of sacrifice and availability to God might seem daunting, but it's in this place of surrender that we find true fulfillment. We discover that we're not just cogs in a machine, but beloved children of God with a divine purpose.

So how do we practically live this out? It starts with a simple daily prayer: "Jesus, what do you want to do through me today?" This prayer opens our eyes to see opportunities around us and cultivates an anticipation for how God might use us.

For those who haven't yet said yes to following Jesus, there's an invitation to step into a richer, more purposeful life. It's a life where your focus shifts from self to others, where you find joy in laying down your life for the Kingdom of God. As you make yourself available to Jesus, He begins to transform your view of yourself, showing you who you truly are in Him.

Whether you're a long-time follower of Jesus or just beginning to explore faith, the call is the same: it's time to risk again. It's time to step out of the normalcy of what we've called Christianity and into the adventure of true discipleship. It's time to share our faith again, to pray for others in public, to do the uncomfortable things Jesus asks of us.

As we do this, we may find that our lives are profoundly changed. We may discover a hope that sustains us through difficult seasons, a purpose that drives us forward, and a love that transforms not only us but those around us.

Remember, following Jesus is not just about being with Him, but becoming like Him and doing what He did. He gave Himself freely for others, and He calls us to do the same. It's not always easy, but He promises to be with us every step of the way.

So today, will you make yourself available? Will you risk comfort for the sake of the Kingdom? Will you step out in faith, even when it doesn't make sense? The invitation is open, and the adventure awaits. It's time to risk again.