“Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
- Matthew 5:11
“Safety is our number one priority.”
That’s a message you’ve probably heard a million times in a million different places. School principals say it when explaining drills and security protocols. Chefs say it when talking about their restaurant’s health code score. Skydiving instructors say it an hour before letting you jump out of a perfectly good airplane. And of course, politicians say it every chance they get.
Leaders of all stripes feel obligated to assure you that, in their hands, you won’t experience any discomfort or risk. The world is a scary place, they acknowledge—but, so long as you are in their care, they will do everything they can to make it seem less frightening. Nothing is more important to them than making you feel safe.
One leader defies this pattern, though: Jesus. Not only does he not promise his followers safety, he does the opposite, predicting that in his name they will experience persecution and humiliation. While we can and should look to God for protection, it is far from assured.
Jesus, who experienced the agony of crucifixion for our salvation, wants our sights set higher than earthly comfort. Secure in the hope of the resurrection, we ought to be bold, courageous ambassadors for Christ in the world, concerned more with gospel proclamation than the risks of our obedience. We don’t have to operate out of fearful hesitancy, because we have not been given a spirit of fear, but of power and love and a sound mind.
Safety is always a consideration, especially for leaders who are entrusted with the care of others. We should be responsible, not reckless. But make no mistake—for Jesus people, safety is not our first priority. The gospel is.
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