“When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.” Acts 4:13
Last night, my friend and I were discussing a post that she had come across on social media. The boldness of this particular post triggered over 30,000 comments in which people were combating the statement that this organization had proclaimed.
While I won’t get into the details of who and what was boldly proclaimed, our conversation expounded on a thought that has been circling my mind for the past few weeks.
BOLDNESS.
We, as children of God, are called to be bold. We are called to be a city on a hill; a light purposely placed on a lamp stand. We are called to be representatives of Christ… But can we do that without a sense of boldness?
As my friend and I read through the comments, I realized how one bold statement had triggered such an uproar and I couldn’t help but wonder if those who were leaving comments, were equally as bold in the opposite direction.
I stepped back and looked at this in the realm of faith and our calling to be God’s coworkers. Beyond the option to remain hidden and silent, we can be like the commenters on the post. We can stand back and when we observe something that doesn’t agree with the Spirit, make a claim for Christ. There is undoubtedly a degree of boldness in that, rather than remaining quiet.
But what would it look like if we were bold without the trigger of opposition? What if we were bold Christians in the way we live, love, and speak? What if our boldness wasn’t a response to people, but to the cross?
We can be so bold about the sports team we follow or the career we have chosen or the new fad we have jumped on the bandwagon for, but what about for Jesus? I am posing these questions to you, just as much as I am posing them to myself! What is it that is holding you back from being bold?
As my friend and I tossed around these questions, she brought two words to the surface; assurance and accountability.
Many times we await complete assurance in something before we dare take a step in boldness. We fear making a fool of ourselves! We will google the answer to something before we proclaim it at the top of our lungs.
As humans, we can’t help but desire tangible assurance, but our assurance rests in Christ and is rooted in God’s promises given to us through His Word. We cannot grab it, touch it, or even fully understand it! Our assurance is tied to the hope that we have in Christ; a hope in which we do not yet have, for hope that is seen is no hope at all. (Romans 8:24) Though we want 100% assurance in our hands BEFORE boldness, I believe that God will continue to meet us with a greater assurance as we continue to take steps IN boldness.
When we make the decision to take a bold step it WILL result in accountability. You have taken a stand and are now officially a representative of Christ. Accountability can be scary and deterring, but it can also be a catalyst for growth and strength. Don’t let being held accountable to your faith keep you from taking a step out in boldness.
When the rulers, elders, and teachers of the law saw the boldness and courage of Peter and John they knew that they had been with Jesus. The passion translation says, “Then they began to understand the effect Jesus had on them simply by spending time with Him” (Romans 8:13).
How amazing is that. By their boldness, it was known that they had been with Jesus. This can be so with us too. Boldness FOR Christ is evidence OF Christ. By my boldness, I want people to know and see the effect of being with Jesus! I want to live, love, and speak in boldness with or without opposition. I want to met with greater assurance in my steps and to be held accountable as a representative of Christ.
Whatever it is that is keeping you from boldness today… drop it right where you are and step out in a confident assurance in Jesus Christ, the anchor of your hope!
