Jesus said: “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (Matthew 28:18-20).

Danish philosopher Soren Kierkegaard told a story about experts who developed some deep-sea diving equipment. They were working on a fancy design. It was state of the art and made to withstand deep waters and difficult conditions. 

They brought in a test subject. He put the suit on. He tested the gear. The technicians helped him test the oxygen tubes and the various features. They were ready to go.

Next, he got into a bathtub full of water and pulled the plug. 

Um, excuse me? After all of that design work and testing they only put him in a bathtub?

Apparently, they expended all that energy and money but weren’t ready to take an actual risk for their work.*

If you are a disciple of Jesus, the Holy Spirit dwells within you. God has given you at least one spiritual gift. He has called you to be his hands and feet in the world. You are an agent of his renovating grace and truth. Perhaps this is focussed in your household, workplace, relationships, or school.

Not all days are good days. I get that. We all stumble and fall face first in the muck. Myself included. 

But what if we were sometimes playing it too safe?

What if today you helped the poor, or shared the gospel, or stood up for justice, or prayed over the sick, or confronted the demonic, or showed courage, or…

“And surely I am with you always,” Jesus said, “to the very end of the age.”

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Notes:

–*Tony Campolo, Stories That Feed Your Soul (California: Regal Light, 2010), 89.

–Bible quotes are from the NIV.