Every day we make countless choices. From where we go, who we hang around with and what we say – we have to make a choice. Every choice we make impacts us and those around us. We have real responsibility and authority, in fact, we are co-creators with God himself!

Jesus constantly invited his disciples and followers to make choices. He continues to ask his people today - Will you go? Will you follow? Will you speak?

Following Jesus requires a response. God invites us to speak, act and demonstrate love. Yes, this isn't always comfortable or natural but it's necessary and should be part of our daily rhythm as disciples. In fact, it was Jesus's fuel to do what he saw the father doing. 

John 4:34: ' "My food," said Jesus, "is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work.'

I heard something recently which has stayed with me, it went a bit like this:

‘To activate and grow your faith, try taking the biggest risk your current faith allows you to take’.

What does it look like to live this out in your life? Perhaps it's reaching out to that old friend who is slowly slipping away from his faith? Or could it be speaking encouragement and life to those who seem downtrodden and defeated?

The truth is, the people around us desperately need us! We as the church must step beyond the superficial to speak genuine hope and demonstrate authentic (yet simple) love. Do you feel compelled by love?

University life can give us the most questions to ponder compared to any other time in life. We ask, who am I? Who is God? Where am I going? What for? 

These are all questions that you may ask yourself but all of them require a response. We can follow a voice of self-protection, fear and safety or choose to hear a voice of courage, hope and unfolding potential.

I imagine Joshua faced similar questions when leading the Israelites. Moses was a big act to follow. I wonder how Joshua questioned himself in this new period of his life. Amongst the fear, change and the unknown, the voice of God was loud and clear. In Joshua 1, three times God speaks: 

‘Joshua, be strong and courageous!’

God is speaking affirmation, boldness and hope. Take a breath, silence the questioning and receive God's words for you today. Perhaps, it's time to take a risk!