What can I risk for the kingdom?

This blog is about training for a crown that lasts. Often this is what God is teaching me through his word. Today I wanted to share what he is teaching me through another book that I read which really made me think about things.

I just completed reading the book called "Safely Home" by Randy Alcorn which is about an American businessman who visits a friend in China who is part of the underground church. Quan risks his life and freedom every week when he attends church. He risks his life and freedom daily by having a bible in the house. What is on the surface a terrible situation is considered by the members of this underground church to be a blessing. They count it gain to share in the suffering of Christ. The government's attempt to squash them only goes to show how worthy Jesus is, that so many are willing to risk so much for Him.

Throughout the story Quan is constantly looking for who needs Jesus and then telling them about Him. People who are sad, people who have no hope, people in prison, prison wardens who lack higher purpose. This highly convicted me to keep a sharper eye out for the lost and then sharing his love with them. I do not risk jail as he did, I risk rejection. I risk "offending" someone.

Jesus talks a lot about suffering for Him. It occurs to me that if I am not suffering, it may just be that I'm not serving Him to the level that I should be. I'm certainly asking the questions: what more can I risk for the glory of God? What am I holding back because I am afraid? What could I accomplish for His kingdom if I drew on His strength to overcome this fear?

I don't think that is the last time I'm going to read that book. Certainly I'm going to keep asking those questions - every day.