One thing we know about Paul is how much the Gospel meant to him. Not only because he expressed it with words time and time again, but he followed through with his actions and his willingness to risk for the sake of the Gospel.
Our risk for the Gospel is most likely very different than Paul’s… but it’s still worth paying attention to how we react when pressed! Do I go along with the majority when I know something doesn’t align with God‘s will? Do I hesitate to say what I really believe in order to keep the peace? Am I quick to get defensive when someone doesn’t agree with me? At many times, my answer to those questions has been yes. However, it’s in those times that I realize that what I’m saying or doing isn’t matching what I believe that God invites me to dig deeper and understand where or why I am not aligned with Him.
God continues to challenge (invite) us to struggle in this world and take risks, whether we see fruit right away or not. We continue to walk in faith, knowing that He who has called us is faithful, and we do it not just to please Him, but because He is already pleased with us. As we do so, we get to walk through adventure with God, not knowing who He is already moving in, or what He will do next. Paul experienced adventure with God! We are invited to do the same. God gets the glory, and we get the joy!