I know some people who love movies and will go the day it premieres. Some will even wait in line for tickets the night before because they have to watch it before anyone else. I am neither of those. For some reason, I was never an avid moviegoer. Maybe it's because I'm too frugal and don't want to spend the money when I know the movie will eventually stream elsewhere. I also don't like being confined to my seat for a couple of hours and possibly disturbing others when I run to the restroom. Even if it's a box office hit, I will wait. There are a few exceptions that will necessitate a visit to the theater.
There was a movie that checked off some of the boxes. I heard positive reviews from movie critics. My sons watched it with their uncle and shared details of their favorite scenes. I had a chance to catch a preview of the movie and was intrigued. It had action, drama, humor, and a message. You may have seen it, Top Gun - Maverick. My husband surprised me with a midday date and took me to see it last summer. I prefer watching this one in the theater because of the surround sound effect. Combining the action scenes and sound made it all the more entertaining. Once it came out online, I viewed it a few more times. One line caught my attention and replayed in my head repeatedly as I followed the main character's monologue, "Don't think, just do." Maverick, the main character, quoted those words, and so did Rooster, the call sign for the other main character, Bradley Bradshaw.
Why did those words linger in the air after the movie was over? Because that command is something I need to follow. I tend to think things through, almost to a fault. I process it forward, backward, and over again before making a decision. In some ways, there are benefits to it. But in other ways, it's a disadvantage. There are more times than I can count when God gave me a directive, and I think it over one too many times instead of just doing it. I heard a conference speaker once quote his wife, "Delayed obedience is disobedience." Ahh. There is truth in those four words. Whenever I delay my action in what God has called me to do, I act in disobedience.
Robbie Dawson, an international best-selling author and evangelist says faith = risk. Unfortunately, I try to live so carefully that I refuse to take risks or live in faith. I am a rule follower and don't like failing. Everything has to be carefully regulated and kept under control, usually my control. I like the borders defined, the guidelines spelled out, and absolutely no unfortunate surprises. And after expending so much time and effort trying to live safely, I refuse to act on the directive God gives me. My reservations could be compared to the servant who received one talent in the Parable of the Talents (Matthew 25:14-30)—being so extra cautious that he buries his talent instead of taking risks and using it.
I will try to take Maverick's words personally, not think, and just do when God calls me to step out in faith. It may be risky and render results I may not appreciate, but at least I was obedient.
Ironically, a week after I wrote this post, I read this quote from Christine Caine's (evangelist, author and international speaker) Instagram post, "This is not a time to stay safe, to live small, to not take risks. It's time TO STEP UP and LIVE OUT the life we have been called to."
Let's STEP UP and LIVE OUT together! We can do this together!
He replied, "Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it." ~Luke 11:28
What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, "Go in peace, be warmed and filled," without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.
But someone will say, "You have faith and I have works." Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder! Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless? Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar? You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works; and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, "Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness"—and he was called a friend of God. You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. ~James 2:14-24 (ESV)
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