"I tell you the truth," Jesus replied, "
no one who has left home or brothers or sisters
or mother or father or children or fields for me
and the gospel will fail to receive
a hundred times as much in this present age. . .
and in the age to come, eternal life."
Mark 10:29-30

At 5'6" and 165 pounds, his chances of playing football for Notre Dame were slim to none. But Rudy Ruettiger had envisioned himself playing for the Fighting Irish since he was a boy, and he was willing to pay the necessary price to make it happen. In 1974 he walked on at Notre Dame and made the practice squad, and in 1975 got to dress and play in the final game of the season. Rudy says, "Along the way the journey will be full of struggle, but I learned that the greater the struggle, the greater the victory!"

As the disciples caught the vision Jesus had for them, they willingly left all they had to follow Him (Mark 1:16-20). Did this require risk and sacrifice? You bet! They had to leave the comforts of their boats and their jobs without the assurance of it paying off. But if I had to guess, I bet they would do it all over again.

Today, let us understand that we must act on our God-given visions.

"If God has birthed a vision in your heart, the day will come when you will be called upon to make a sacrifice to achieve it. And you will have to make the sacrifice with no guarantee of success," says author and pastor Andy Stanley. We know that the sowing of great sacrifices is required for the reaping of great rewards.

Stanley puts it this way: "Vision requires the commitment of a parachutist. You don't 'sort of' parachute. You are either in the plane or in the air." I challenge you to take the risks and make the sacrifices needed in order to move toward the vision God has put on your heart.

Describe a dream or vision that required great sacrifice on your part.
Reflecting on the vision God has currently given you, what sacrifices will be necessary? Are you willing to make them?

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Josh Carter is an East Central Illinois FCA Representative. A former high school teacher and coach, Josh is happily married to his wife Dena. They have two children, Aaron and Kindall.

In Jesus' name, Amen.