Go for it
September 21, 2006
By Greg Ebie
“Going out on a limb” is never easy. Taking a risk can be like walking on thin ice. When you hear the cracking, do you turn back or keep moving ahead?
“Peter followed at a safe distance until they got to the Chief Priest’s courtyard, where he mingled with the servants and warmed himself at the fire.”
(Mark 14:54, The Message)
I’m struck by the words, “Peter followed at a safe distance.” Who can blame him, right? Jesus had been arrested. He had told the disciples in advance what would happen — they just had a hard time understanding or believing it could be true.
Peter played it safe; he had the chance to go out on a limb and stand with Jesus. Even if Peter didn’t understand what “rising from the dead” meant, he had to know God would watch out for Jesus, so God would take care of Peter too if he were willing to stand by Jesus side, right?
How often do we find ourselves walking in Peter’s shoes, or should I say sandals? We are willing to follow Jesus, but we don’t want to take any risks. We just play it safe and never go out on a limb.
“God sticks his head out of heaven. He looks around. He’s looking for someone not stupid — one man, even, God-expectant, just one God-ready woman.”
(Psalm 53:2, The Message)
While fear kept Peter at a safe distance that night, we all know the rest of the story. Time and again Peter would go out on a limb in the Book of Acts. Peter even stood without fear before the same religious men who condemned Jesus to die. And each time Peter took a step of faith, to go out on a spiritual limb, God was right there to hold the limb up and keep it from breaking.
God is still looking for the “God-expectant,” the “God-ready.” Jesus went out on a limb on the cross and God raised Him from the dead. Jesus has filled us with His Spirit; the same power that raised Jesus from the dead is in us. Isn’t it time we went out on a limb for God?
D. Greg Ebie is senior pastor of Praise Assembly of God in Garrettsville, Ohio, and an author of Daily Bread devotionals.
