Take Radical Action

We are all aware that we get stuck in ruts and keep doing the same things over and over again, even when they don’t work.

I addressed this previously in a post titled ‘More of the Same’, pointing out how we expect life to keep dishing us more of the same things we had in the past because we keep doing the same things we did in the past.

Catch that message on Video at: https://youtu.be/hWND1oX-_d0

I want to prompt you now about your need to take radical action. The changes you want in life and the changes you need to make won’t likely happen by some gradual process. Yes, there is the issue of growth, and a small sapling can become a giant tree. Yet in many situations in life, especially where we are stuck in a rut, that process won’t work for us.

Consider a number of examples from the Bible where some radical step by people led to radical change. One example is the Disciples of Jesus. Each one had to choose to follow Jesus and they also had to choose to stick with Him. Peter and his brother Andrew, along with fellow fishermen James and John, were called by Jesus to abandon their fishing and follow Him. It was a radical step that led to radical life transformation. They are not remembered for their fishing, but as Disciples of Jesus.

Gideon was a fearful young man, his land regularly attacked by enemies. An angel called him to step up as a man of courage. Gideon didn’t rush to respond, taking several smaller, hesitant steps first. But as he allowed himself to get out of his comfort zone he was soon leading a small band of men to defeat a huge army.

Most of us don’t hear the voice of Jesus calling us from our fishing boat, or get visited by an angel telling us to lift our game. Yet we all know of things in the Bible that God calls us to step up to. Just taking time to do those things is a radical step in itself.

I had the privilege many years ago of hosting Argentinian preacher Juan Carlos Ortiz. He told of a time when he was challenged by God to preach the same sermon in his church week after week. The reason was that the people were hearing the message but not doing it. He kept preaching the message until people began to do what the Bible said.

Maybe there are many things you have heard from God’s Word that you have not even thought of doing. How radical it would be if you actually did them!

Juan Carlos told of the message about meeting the needs of others and how he and the congregation actually began doing it. It led to many wonderful blessings among the congregation and it changed the hearts of the people.

It could be really radical if you were to do some of the very basic things God asks of you. Maybe to forgive someone who offended you, or to love someone who is your enemy, or to bless the widows and fatherless, or to give generously, or to study God’s Word, or to pray and fast, or to be baptised, or to feed the hungry, or to visit those in prison, or to take the gospel to those who haven’t heard it.

The measure of whether you’ve taken radical action might simply be that those around you are surprised and maybe shocked that you are now doing something you’ve never done before.

Ebenezer Scrooge, from the Charles Dickens’ Christmas Carol story, went from being miserly selfish to being generous. Maybe you could make that kind of change.

Jean Valjean from Victor Hugo’s story, Les Miserables, went from being a criminal to living for the good of others. Maybe you could make that kind of change.

The most powerful change comes when God is at work within us. I know of people who started going to church, or who connected with Christians whose faith was alive and vital, who soon found God moving them along a lovely spiritual journey.

I know of others who finally took their pain and their problems to God and sought godly counsel and spiritual support to overcome obstacles in their lives.
Just getting help was a radical act for them and it led to breakthrough.

I know of people who kept denying the problems that surrounded them who finally gave up their pride and admitted their needs. I know of people who similarly finally apologised for their wrong actions. Or others who stopped blocking the lives of those around them.

My prayer is that God will stir your heart with a prompt toward some kind of radical action. Take some radical action that is blessed by God, inspired by God and which will release the anointing of God’s Holy Spirit into your life to bring life, joy and blessing.

So as this message touches you and in the days ahead, ask God to show you what simple steps you can take that will change the course of your life and move you out of the negatives that hold you into the glorious liberty that awaits you.

May you enjoy embarking on a life of radical change because you have decided to take Radical Action.