Living on the Edge

Posted by Dion Todd October 21st, 2024 1,120 Views 28 Comments

Too often, we find ourselves playing it safe, staying on the sidelines, and hesitating to fully trust God with our lives. Maybe we choose comfort over stepping out to serve or avoid difficult conversations where we could share our faith. This approach can leave us with a watered-down faith - bland, colorless, and without the power that makes Christianity truly alive and compelling. It's the kind of faith that doesn't attract anyone because it lacks the heart of true surrender.

Paul warned Timothy that in the last days, people would become self-centered, holding onto a form of godliness but denying its real power (2 Timothy 3:1-5). And Jesus, quoting Isaiah, said, "These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. They worship me in vain, teaching human rules as if they were divine" (Mark 7:6-7). We need to move beyond just words and rituals and embrace the kind of faith that transforms us from the inside out - a faith that dares to step out of the boat and walk on the water with Jesus.

We can be very religious and still miss it when God speaks to us or even when He is standing right in front of us. The Pharisees didn't recognize Jesus, and His words made them angry - imagine that. They had built a religious system that no longer needed God. It's easy to slip into that kind of passiveness, where there's no risk, no disappointment, and no reward.

If we don't pray for someone to be healed, then we won't be disappointed if they aren't. If we avoid mentioning Jesus, then we won't face rejection or embarrassment. But we have to remember what Jesus said in Luke 9:26: "Whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when He comes in His glory, and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels." True faith involves stepping out, taking risks, and trusting God to be with us every step of the way.

Walking with God sometimes requires radical faith on our part. When we feel stuck, God will often require radical choices that make no earthly sense. We just have to trust Him and know that it will work out. I want to take a look at the story of Elijah in 1 Kings 17, beginning in verse 8:

(1 Kings 17:8–12 NKJV) Then the word of the LORD came to him, saying, "Arise, go to Zarephath, which belongs to Sidon, and dwell there. See, I have commanded a widow there to provide for you." So he arose and went to Zarephath. And when he came to the gate of the city, indeed a widow was there gathering sticks. And he called to her and said, "Please bring me a little water in a cup, that I may drink." And as she was going to get it, he called to her and said, "Please bring me a morsel of bread in your hand." So she said, "As the LORD your God lives, I do not have bread, only a handful of flour in a bin, and a little oil in a jar; and see, I am gathering a couple of sticks that I may go in and prepare it for myself and my son, that we may eat it, and die."

(1 Kings 17:13–16 NKJV) And Elijah said to her, "Do not fear; go and do as you have said, but make me a small cake from it first, and bring it to me; and afterward make some for yourself and your son. For thus says the LORD God of Israel: 'The bin of flour shall not be used up, nor shall the jar of oil run dry, until the day the LORD sends rain on the earth.' " So she went away and did according to the word of Elijah; and she and he and her household ate for many days. The bin of flour was not used up, nor did the jar of oil run dry, according to the word of the LORD which He spoke by Elijah.

Would the Almighty God of heaven ask a poor widow to give away a portion of her last bit of food during a famine that had lasted for years? Apparently so, but who would do that to a poor widow? God Almighty, the same One that required Abraham to leave his father's house without knowing where he was going. The One who asked him to offer his son Isaac as a sacrifice.

This would have made no earthly sense to the widow here. It had not rained in three years, there was a drought, and food was scarce. Everyone was hungry. In her mind, she should keep the food for herself and her son, but she knew in her heart that God was telling her to give some away. God said that He had "commanded her." She knew what she was to do because of that inner witness.

When she trusted God, took that leap of faith, and shared her food with Elijah, God performed a miracle for her. He changed her circumstances. She and her household ate all they wanted for many days because the flour never ran out, and her jar of oil never ran dry. There was always enough for the next meal.

Radical faith requires sacrifice. Hoarding for yourself is never, ever the answer. Give, and it will be given to you. Psalm 26:5 reads, "Those who sow in tears, Shall reap in joy," but too many are clinging to earthly things in a death grip like they are their last hope when God is saying, "Trust Me." You can cling to your stuff and not have Him, or you can trust Him, and when you do, He will give you the stuff as well. Your Father knows what you have need of before you ask Him (Matthew 6:8), and if you delight yourself in the Lord, He will give you the desires of your heart (Psalm 37:4). God is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him (Hebrews 11:6).

If you want your circumstances to change, then try something new. Einstein said: "The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again but expecting different results." If you are making a cake and it always comes out wrong, then you need to try a different recipe.

What if you feel that God is not asking you to do anything? Then, ask Him for an opportunity. Peter and the other disciples were in the boat crossing the Sea of Galilee when Jesus came walking toward them on the water. They screamed in fear, thinking that it was a ghost, but Jesus said, "It is I, do not be afraid." Then Peter asked Jesus if he could come to Him on the water. Matthew 14:28:

(Matthew 14:28–29 NKJV) And Peter answered Him and said, "Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water." So He said, "Come." And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus.

Peter asked. Jesus said, "Come," and then Peter walked onto the water. That opportunity didn't exist until Peter asked for it. We can pray and ask the Lord to give us opportunities the same way that Peter did.

You can pray this with me if you like:

Prayer: Heavenly Father, please show me who can I can be a blessing to. Show me who I can encourage today. Use me as Your hands and feet on the earth. Speak to me and through me. Let me live a life of radical faith. In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen!