In his excellent new book The Icarus Deception, Seth Godin talks about the difference between our comfort zone and safety zone. “For a long time,” he writes, “the two were one and the same.” But now they are very different things. Push yourself out of the comfort zone, and you’re still probably safe. You’ll be uncomfortable speaking out or taking that risk, but your life won’t really be in danger. Stop living in the comfort zone, Godin advises, and push yourself into the safety zone.
Good advice, but what if the safety zone isn’t even enough? In reading Acts, I’m struck with how the apostles were willing to risk everything for the mission. They were willing to forsake comfort and safety for the sake of the mission.
Paul said, "But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God" (Acts 20:24).
There’s a guy living in the mission zone. It's way beyond both the comfort and safety zones. It’s where I'd love to live this year, along with you.