When it comes to being bold, I prefer to limit my thoughts to what’s most important to me. That focus deals with my strongly held beliefs in God and Country.
Being bold in other areas may be fine for others, but has no significance in my life journey these days.
Let’s turn to the Book of Proverbs for some sage advice from King Solomon:
“The wicked man flees though no one pursues, but the righteous are as bold as a lion. When a country is rebellious, it has many rulers, but a man of understanding and knowledge maintains order. A ruler who oppresses the poor is like a driving rain that that leaves no crops. Those who forsake the law praise the wicked, but those who keep the law resist them.”
Those are words of wisdom certainly worthy of a discussion on righteous boldness.
There’s no better place to turn in Scripture to see boldness at work than the Book of The Acts of the Apostles.
In Acts 3 we read the account of the healing of a crippled beggar who confronted Peter and John for alms outside the Temple.
Miraculously, Peter took the beggar’s hand and he was healed of his paralysis. For this act, Peter and John were jailed for the night but released the following day when the authorities determined keeping them imprisoned would be unwise.
Peter was quick to let everyone know that this miracle was the Risen Christ at work. They were filled with the Holy Spirit.
Reading the full account of Acts 3 and 4 will show the bold actions of these Apostles.
More than likely, you’ve heard a version of the account of David and Goliath. Well, imagine this young boy picking out five smooth stones from the riverbed and going into battle with this giant armed only with his trusty sling.
He boldly went forward, but first you need to hear the insolent words of Goliath from 1 Samuel 17:43-44: “He said to David, ‘Am I a dog, that you come at me with sticks?’ And he cursed David by his gods, ‘Come here,’ he said, ‘and I’ll feed your flesh to the birds of the air and the beasts of the field!’“
Then in the following verses we read the bold response of this young man of God:
“David said to the Philistine, ‘You come against me with sword, spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the Lord will hand you over to me, and I’ll strike you down and cut off your head …’”
Well, it only took one small stone to fell the giant.
As followers of Christ in these latter days, we will unlikely have to face literal giants, but some of the circumstances we will confront may seem quite daunting.
The good news is this: we are not alone. The Holy Spirit will bring us through the spiritual and physical battles before us.
What I’ve found critical, as the Holy Spirit places me in the lives of others who are struggling in the faith journey, is the importance of my knowledge and understanding of Scripture allows me to boldly present Christ to them.
And, as I’ve witnessed Him work in my life and the lives of others, I’m greatly encouraged. Spend ample time in God’s Word.
In closing, let me encourage you in these words of the Apostle found in 1 Peter 1:13:
“Therefore prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed.”
Come soon, Lord Jesus — Maranatha!