Serving Challenge: An 11-Day Life-Changing Journey to Serve Like JesusSample

Serving Like Jesus: Your Action The construction of the Golden Gate Bridge in 1933 was a spectacular feat of engineering. But the job turned out to be quite costly for many workers. In the first several months, eleven of them fell to their death. Every time this occurred, the crew would work slower for fear that it could happen to any of them. Because of this, the crew fell behind on their deadlines. Chief Engineer Joseph Strauss assessed the situation and decided to suspend work on the bridge until the workers could work safely. Strauss made the site the first in America to have a safety net suspended underneath it. The decision was a costly one at $130,000, but it worked. The net saved the lives of nineteen falling workers. In addition to saving lives, the safety net sped up the work. After the net was in place, suddenly, the crew worked faster and more efficiently. They wound up finishing before the initial deadline, bringing the entire construction of the bridge under budget. Safety nets allow us to go for things, knowing it's okay if we fail. We don't need to worry about how it will all work out, for we can trust in the promises of God that it will end well. All each one of us can do is continue to take steps of action. We have the ultimate safety net. His name is Jesus. Colossians 1:17 says, “He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.” You are held by the One who has all things together! If God has invited you into a vision, go for it! And if you fail, the good news is that God is our safety net. His grace picks you right back up. You don't have to be perfect. You have to be obedient. Even if you fail, God can use the failures of your past in some way to help someone else in the future. 1 John 4:18 reminds us that " perfect love drives out fear ." Our faith in a perfect God and His love for us at some point allows us to still move forward, even in our fear. As we continue to take steps, faith arises, and fear subsides. So, whatever God has called you to do, lay the brick, write the words, put the reps in, and know that God is your safety net. Challenge: What have you been afraid of acting on, even though you know you ought to do it? Take action on that thing today to help you overcome this fear.