Embracing the Unknown

Got the chance to fill in for Clay at Trinity Church, one of our church plants, this Sunday. Had a blast. Everyone was so encouraging. Here's what I shared with them.

Everything that grows moves into the unknown. These are areas in our lives, families, &/or churches that we've never been before. Moms, remember the first day of school for your children. . .unknown. Guys, first day at a new job. . .unknown. Moved to a new neighborhood. . .unknown. Started a new ministry. . .unknown. They are all areas of our lives that tend to make most of us cringe just a little.

Now I know there are some of you out there that thrive off of living in and for the moment. You're the person who hits the road with no destination in mind. Or makes plans at the last minute. Let me be perfectly honest. . .that just FREAKS ME OUT!!! No, seriously, what's up with that? How can you do that? I'm just too much of a control freak and a planner to do it. Sorry.

Anyway. . .in order to embrace the unknown look no further than the Jonathan, son of King Saul and BFF to future King David. The story finds the Israelites at odds with the Philistines, again. Saul is hiding out with 600 hundred of his men. Jonathan has had enough and goes after the Philistines. Here's the lessons from Jonathan -

1. Embrace Initiative - In order to Embrace the Unknown you've got to do something! Get up and take the initiative. Don't wait until something happens to you. Jonathan didn't wait for the enemy to attack, he got up and took action. He was called to be a leader and a warrior. So, he got up and fought!
2. Embrace Uncertainty - Let go of the stability of certainty! You cannot grow and move forward while you are hugging on to certainty. One of the wonderful things about living in the realm of uncertainty is that you find that the journey with God is full of surprises. . .and that God is enough. While Jonathan was certain about the power and faithfulness of God, he left the outcome to God. It was like Jonathan was saying, "Let's go pick a fight. . .and maybe God will help!"
3. Embrace Influence - When we begin to embrace and move into the unknown we influence others. You might influence your family, children, friends, or fellow Christ-followers. Maximize your sphere of influence. Jonathan didn't try to influence his father. He didn't try to influence the guys hiding out with his father. But he did influence the one person in his sphere of influence - his armor bearer. And he followed Jonathan heart and soul.
4. Embrace Risk - The unknown is entangled with risk, but if we are going to move forward into the unknown, then we must embrace risk. It's like the old saying, "You can't steal 2nd with your foot on 1st." The problem with risk is that it makes us visible. People notice when others take a chance. But often times we would rather remain invisible. Here are some other words for invisible - average, mediocre, normal, compliant, predictable, and safe - it just helps us blend in with everyone else. Jonathan did blend in. With only 50% of the swords in the entire army (he had 1 of the 2), Jonathan moved forward and made himself known. He made himself visible.
5. Embrace Advancement - You can't follow God and remain in neutral. Follow is an action word that requires you and I to move! Embracing Advancement is often the dividing line between seeing a divine opportunity and seizing a divine opportunity. When we sit, we see. When we advance, we seize. Jonathan exemplifies this step. He left the safety of camp and made himself known to the Philistines. No surprise attack. No ambush. No superior fire power. Just a willingness to advance and trust God. I think Jonathan understood that the odds are irrelevant to God.

I know this probably isn't original. I'm almost certain I've heard it in an sermon, read it in a book, or saw it somewhere. But I do now it's true, regardless.

Moving, Risking, Influencing, Advancing while in the realm of Uncertainty. Won't you join me?!
Mike