I am a self-proclaimed coward. This is not necessarily something I am proud of. You will not see me sky diving, bungee jumping, swimming with sharks, or anything else that requires much bravery. Heck, I don’t even like to dive off the diving board.

However, I must admit my cowardly ways have at times saved me from doing things that were self destructive; like drugs and other law breaking activities that “friends” were attempting to get me to partake in. Don’t get me wrong…there have been times in my life where I stuck my toe in just far enough to test the waters, but drew back once I gave a second thought about what might happen to me if I went just a little further, and I was too scared to take the chance.

There are other things I am afraid to do sometimes. One of them is speaking openly about God at all times. I have no problem talking about God and giving my testimony to other Christians, but I find it difficult to muster up the courage to underline the Word of God to those whom I know are not Christians. On the other hand, I am also afraid of someone going to hell because I didn’t take advantage of the opportunity to tell them the plan of salvation. But what if I am too blind to recognize that opportunity as it is happening, and that is how I miss it? I’m afraid of that too.

Where will all this fear get me? According to the Bible, it ranks me right up there with the murderers and the sexually immoral, (Liars are up there too, but that’s another blog), so in that case it gets me straight to hell!

Revelation 21:8 – But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars – their place will be in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death. (NIV)

I knew that our responsibility as Christians was to recruit new sheep into the flock, but it wasn’t until the other day during bible study that the Lord convicted me and brought it to my attention that failure to do this will result in permanent death. It turns out that witnessing is not an optional form of stewardship.

My daily prayer for myself was for the Lord to continue to remind me that I cannot do anything without Him. Now I must add to that courage. The courage to do what I know is right, and the ability to recognize the opportunity to serve the Lord in the way that only He deserves by adding to His flock.