Joshua 1:7-9 “Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest. This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success. Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.”

II Timothy 1:7 “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”

Esther 4:15-16 “Then Esther bade them return Mordecai this answer, Go, gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan, and fast ye for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day: I also and my maidens will fast likewise; and so will I go in unto the king, which is not according to the law: and if I perish, I perish.”

Experienced Mercury and Gemini Astronaut Gus Grissom said the following about their brave endeavors that pushed the envelope for American space flight and for human exploration: “If we die, we want people to accept it. We’re in a risky business, and we hope that if anything happens to us, it will not delay the program. The conquest of space is worth the risk of life.”

On January 27, 1967, during a launch rehearsal test for Apollo 1, an electrical spark caused a fire in the crew capsule from which the astronauts onboard could not escape. On that tragic day, Gus Grissom, Ed White, and Roger Chaffee perished in a fiery disaster on the launch pad.

Grissom’s quote is an example of a man who understands the risks associated with endeavors and is bravely willing to accept them to achieve their important collective mission.

Throughout Christian history we have seen, through words and actions, the same concept reiterated and repeated. We saw it through God’s direction to Joshua, by Paul’s direction to Timothy, and in the Esther’s response to Mordecai.

God is directing us similarly today as we serve Him through our counter-cultural Christianity!

We aren’t being charged to be reckless. Yet, we are being called to understand the risks associated with our endeavors, and to bravely and willingly accept them to achieve our important collective mission for Christ.

PLEASE PRAY FOR AMERICAN CHRISTIANS TO SERVE CHRIST WITH BOLDNESS AND COURAGE. We’re in a risky business, and we hope that if anything happens to us, it will not delay the program.