As of recently, for my morning devotionals I decided to start reading through the New Testament and really digging in to it as a bigger picture rather than a few verses at a time, starting in Acts. I’ve loved reading about the early church, how they did life and ministry, and the impact they had on the world around them. My favorite part of Acts was actually the last verse (28:31):
“Boldly and without hinderance he (Paul) preached the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ.”
The Holy Spirit stopped me in my tracks, saying “Do not miss this; there are things I want to show you.” Over the next couple of weeks, I processed (and am still processing) what this verse looks like in my life.
If you are facebook friends with a new mom, your news feed is probably full of pictures of their baby in the same position making 20 different faces. (Disclaimer–I love this because I love babies). And you don’t have to convince a mom or ask them twice to talk about their kids. Why? Because their kids mean the world to them! It is who they are pouring their attention and affection into. It is where their focus is. It is who they are spending a majority of their time with.
This is what I want my relationship with Christ to look like. I want to live a life where I don’t have to consciously be bold, but that it just overflows from the love I have for God. He is where I am sending my attention and affection to. He is where my focus is. He is who I am spending a majority of my time with.
Yesterday I was in Krogers, and I stopped to get a free sample of an energy bar. The man behind the counter asked about my RAVE ministries shirt**. As I stumble, more than I should, through what Rave is, he said to me, “Don’t be afraid to say the name of Jesus! I’m a worshipper myself.”
This struck me. Had I not just sat an hour ago working through this blog about boldness? The Spirit just spoke to me saying “I”m working to make you bold; and you are already bolder than you think.”
If I’m being honest, I am a people-pleaser by nature. I try to avoid conflict and run (emotionally, and sometimes physically) away from it. This is why boldness can be tricky for me. With the way society is today, we are taught to always be politically correct and not stir the pot. I am not saying to purposefully go around offending people; however, I think the Gospel can make people feel uncomfortable. And if I have to make someone feel uncomfortable to hear the truth about Jesus, is that not worth it? To be bold for the sake of the Gospel?
“For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile”
Romans 1:16
**Rave Ministries is a ministry for teenage girls by girls. Used to talk through the tough issues and encourage them to live a life worth Raving about in Christ http://www.raveministries.org/ ).
