It goes without saying that Katie Davis is an exceptional young woman. At just 19 years old, she began serving needy children in Uganda—leaving behind the creature comforts of America. And now, at 22, her work—Amazima Ministries—pays the tuition for 450 Ugandan children to attend a Christian school and also feeds 1,600 hungry children in the community. She personally cares for 13 orphans who live with her— providing them with food, clothing, and a home-school education. What’s funny is that Katie doesn’t see her life as something special. She’s simply taking God at His Word—following His lead in caring for the less fortunate.
The risks and total surrender to God’s will that Katie has lived out reminds me of a woman named Jochebed (Exodus 6:20). This woman took an incredible risk in hiding her Jewish son because the Pharaoh of Egypt had declared that “every newborn Hebrew boy [be thrown] into the Nile River” (Exodus 1:22). She hid the boy for 3 months, then placed him in a small basket sealed “with tar and pitch” and placed it in the reeds along the bank of the Nile (Exodus 2:3).
This act was later lifted up by the writer of Hebrews as a display of great faith: “It was by faith that Moses’ parents hid him for three months when he was born. They saw that God had given them an unusual child, and they were not afraid to disobey the king’s command” (Hebrews 11:23). In other words, they risked it all because they were taking God at His Word.
Jochebed’s little baby became the great leader of the Israelites—Moses. He led God’s people out of Egypt—saving the lives of countless men, women, and children.
Taking God at His Word may include risk. But there’s great reward in following Him. Just ask Jochebed—and Katie.
NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: Luke 11:1-13
More:
Read Proverbs 20:2 and consider what Jochebed risked. Paul commended a man named Epaphroditus for risking “his life for the work of Christ.” Check out the apostle’s words in Philippians 2:25-30.
Next:
What is God calling you to risk for Him? What key questions should be answered before taking a risk for God?
duane1 on August 2, 2012 at 5:06 pm
I’ve just been in touch with the author of a book about a similar ministry. INSPIRED TO ACTION by Rebecca M. Pratt. It tells the great story of the ministry she and Tim started to rescue orphans and very poor people in Benin and Liberia after working for years with Mercy Ships. Read about her book and ministry on rebeccampratt.com.
Sincerely, Pastor Duane Lundberg
Boone, Iowa
auvencetri on August 2, 2012 at 7:48 pm
Great people of the bible had great courage. That is someting I wish I had more of. I pray often that I do something good for the lord this day, and now I understand that courage is a part of it.
daisymarygoldr on August 2, 2012 at 11:02 pm
Faith in God is in itself a risk. Jochebed had to cast her baby boy into the waters in order to have him returned back to her again. Likewise only when we risk our all, we will reap a rich return (Ecclesiastes 11:1).
The reward for risk though may not be guaranteed in this life. Those who took risks died yet none of them received all that God had promised (Hebrews 11: 39). We take risks for God not for the reward but out of love—because He first risked His all to restore us back to Himself.
As great as the risk of taking God at His Word and going against kings is, the risk of not believing Him is far greater. Katie’s story is very inspiring. Thanks Tom for sharing it and the reminder to risk our lives for the work of Christ!