“Sometimes there is nothing more exciting than an opportunity, and sometimes there is nothing more frightening than an opportunity.” Every morning we wake, we have the great privilege of deciding how we will choose to view the different opportunities that cross our path. Honestly, I wish I could say opportunities never scared me but the truth is they can, and at times they do. I have a feeling I’m not the only one, and once we all come to the place where we look at the opportunities at hand and choose to get excited about them, we just might live a courageous life.
Living a courageous life does not mean we have to pick up a long sword, throw on our kilts, jump on horses and dash into battle. That epic act of valor is actually sometimes simpler to perform because it easier to understand. I think living a courageous life means we live out the opportunities we have as bravely as we possible can in spite of danger or criticism or threat. I think that’s one of the many lessons I learn from Jesus when it comes to serving.
For certain, Jesus’ death on the cross is perhaps the most epic, most courageous thing ever performed or witnessed but it is not the only epic example in the life of Christ. Hours before He heads to the cross, in John chapter 13, Jesus takes the opportunity of a dinner party to show what courage looks like. Against the back drop of deception & betrayal and the end of His life, the bible says that Jesus decides to wash His disciple’s feet. Jesus places Himself in the position of a servant by performing the job of a slave.
The obvious question is why! Jesus is willing to die for His friends (for all humanity) in a few short hours, why isn’t that enough. Peter is so totally wrecked by this act of service that he missed, and sometimes we miss, the point:
“The opportunity to show love does not always mean you have to die for someone else, sometimes it means you have to be willing to die to self.”
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Last week I organized a mission’s trip where a group of young adults were given the chance to venture onto the mission field, die to self & serve in Nicaragua. We feed and clothed many, we painted walls and became electricians and we even got to wash the feet of a community of elderly people who have been a banded and forgotten by their family. Honestly we were all a little scared of washing feet but we were more excited about being able to bring joy and peace to hurting lives.
Opportunities to serve & love present themselves every day, the question is how will we respond?
