You Might Lose Everything

Theme of the Week: Bold Risks for God

Some men will risk everything for the world, but hesitate to risk anything for the God who saved them.

What happens when a man chooses to go all in for Christ? What gets tested, what gets stripped, and what gets remade? This devotional hits right where it matters: your heart, your home, your calling. Christian manhood isn’t passive—it’s a fight. And it starts by risking what matters most. Discover what bold, Biblical leadership really looks like when it costs something.

2 Timothy 4:16-17 (ESV), “At my first defense no one came to stand by me, but all deserted me. May it not be charged against them. But the Lord stood by me and strengthened me, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it.”

Some of you reading this are men who used to run with a different crew. Friends, colleagues, maybe even family members who once felt like your lifeline—but now that you’ve turned your heart toward Christ, they don’t call, they don’t show up, and they don’t get it. You feel alone. And maybe you’re starting to wonder if this path is worth the cost.

It is.

Following Jesus isn’t always safe. It’s not always comfortable. It’s not socially acceptable in a culture that worships pride and self. But it is right. It is true. And it is necessary if you want your life to count in the things that actually last.

I had to walk away from comfort too. I had to lose the image I built. I had to lay down my pride, my plans, and my approval addiction. I had to stop asking what the world thought and start asking what the Lord wanted. And yeah, it cost me. Friends faded. Some relationships just quietly died. But others came—men of faith, deep faith. Men who had scars and stories. Men who could hold the line with me when life got dark. Not many. But enough. And the one closest to me? My wife. We walk in the Spirit together, and that union is stronger than anything this world could offer.

So what are the risks we take for God? You already know them. Pride. Comfort. Familiarity. Sin we secretly love. An image of ourselves we fight to protect. These are the daggers that keep us from holding the sword. That’s why John the Baptist said, “He must increase, but I must decrease” (John 3:30 ESV).

That kind of surrender isn’t easy. It’s not a one-time deal. It’s a daily death of self. And if that sounds harsh, good. It should. Because that’s the real cost of Biblical manhood. That’s the furnace where leaders are forged.

You want to lead your family? You want to be a shepherd in your home? Then take the bold risk of dying to yourself. Lay your ego down. Pick up your cross. Be the man who leads your family not with noise, but with presence. Not with pressure, but with prayer. Not with bravado, but with bold, quiet obedience.

You may lose some old friends. But what you gain will be worth more than gold. You will gain purpose. You will gain integrity. You will gain the presence of God. And you will find other men like you, men of the Shepherd, who will walk with you under the covering of Christ.

This journey of sanctification, of becoming more like Jesus, doesn’t happen overnight. But it does start with a decision. A bold one. One that says: I am not living for the world anymore. I am not standing still. I am not going to keep peace with my passivity. I will fight the good fight. I will lead my home. I will take bold risks for the God who took the ultimate risk for me.

This is how we shepherd, men. We move first. We love first. We repent first. We forgive first. We worship first. We suffer first. And we keep moving, even when we feel alone.

Paul felt that loneliness too. But he didn’t quit. He said in 2nd Timothy 4:17, “The Lord stood by me and strengthened me.” And He will do the same for you.

So don’t retreat. Don’t pull back. Don’t water it down. Let the fire of the Spirit refine you. Let the Word of God shape you. And let the call of Christ lead you forward.

Take bold risks, brother. That’s where real faith lives.

In this week’s theme of “Bold Risks for God,”
Today’s “Shepherding in Action” Value is:
Faithful Boldness.
A shepherd leader doesn’t wait for safety, applause, or signs. He moves forward in faithful boldness, trusting God more than comfort.

Reflect / Apply / Share

1. Reflect – What bold risk is God asking you to take that you’ve been avoiding?
2. Apply – How can you lead your family this week in a way that shows them you’re putting Christ before comfort?
3. Share – Who needs to see your bold faith in action, and how will you let them see it?

Bible References (ESV)

• 2 Timothy 4:16-17 — “At my first defense no one came to stand by me, but all deserted me. May it not be charged against them. But the Lord stood by me and strengthened me, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it.”
• John 3:30 — “He must increase, but I must decrease.”

Personal Prayer

Lord, give me the courage to lose whatever I need to lose in order to gain more of You. Help me lead boldly and trust You, even when it costs me.

My Personal Journey & Engagement Call
These weekday reflections flow from my time in God’s Word. I invite you to join me and other Men of the Shepherd in building Christ-centered homes—leading, discipling, and serving like Jesus.
If these reflections encourage you, please like, share, and pass them on so more men can grow in their calling.
To follow along with the weekday readings, check out our Weekday Reflections Playlist on YouTube or subscribe to the YouTube channel here.

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Devotional Week: 25W19