Be Safe?
Nowhere in the Bible is there a command to be safe. Let that sink in.
I recently had the privilege of attending a worship conference, and this was mentioned by one of the speakers. Honestly, it startled me a bit. I am a mom, wife, and friend. I tell people to be safe hundreds if not thousands of times a year. To be fair, the bible also doesn’t command us to be stupid or careless, so in many of those cases, especially when it comes to my children, “be safe” is actually code for don’t do anything “stupid,” but the statement got my attention anyway.
Imagine as Moses’ mother sends him down the river in a basket, ultimately to be picked up and raised by the very evil that threatened him to begin with, if she had been unable to follow through because she wanted to be safe.
Or if Jehoshaphat had been unable to follow God’s command to send in the worshippers first because he needed them to be safe.
Or even the arrival of Jesus, there was nothing safe in sending Jesus while all first born sons were being killed.
And then of course, Jesus’ instructions to the disciples, in Matthew 10:16 “Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves; so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.” and be safe? Nope, it doesn’t say that.
Safety does not appear to be a primary concern in scripture. In fact courage is mentioned considerably more. Add in statements like do not be afraid, or be bold, or be steadfast and that number expands considerably.
And all that left me pondering the way I approach things. I stand by my earlier statement, that not being commanded to be safe is not the same a being commanded to be careless, danger seeking, or stupid, but I admit I had to wrestle with this. Safety in and of itself is a lie. When I say be safe, or when I act in a way that I think is safe, I am assuming that the other person or myself actually have the ability to keep us safe, but the truth is we do not. Our limited knowledge, our limited perspective often actually mean that we hide in safety and completely miss what Jesus is trying to do.
“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.” Deuteronomy 31:6
Have Courage!
So today, I am consciously choosing to say have courage. Be cunning. Use wisdom. Follow Jesus. Truthfully that is the only safe place, whether in the midst of battle or times of peace, safety is found in the path that Jesus takes us on, even when it doesn’t seem safe at all.
So that thing you’re facing… the ministry challenge, the difficult relationship, the dream that is taking shape, the tough decision, the hard conversation, the vision you have, the mission you are a part of, whatever it is…. have courage, be wise, follow Jesus, forget safety.
Finding Zarephath is on a mission to encourage, equip, and celebrate women in ministry. If you need prayer, someone to talk to, or resources, please contact us at admin@findingzarephath.com