Today’s Reading: Acts 4:30-31 (NIV)
30 Stretch out your hand to heal and perform miraculous signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus. 31 After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.
Good morning!
Holy boldness cannot be taught in a college classroom. It is not a skill set one acquires on a debate team or while attending an employee training event. Holy boldness is a gift of the Spirit, and it comes through faith in Jesus Christ.
We often think of a bold person as someone who is outspoken in their convictions. One example may be a pastor who is offering his Sunday morning sermon in a loud, animated voice. Is this really what it means to be holy bold? I personally believe there are other manifestations that speak much louder than words.
The gift of holy boldness is evident in the heart of a penitent spouse, as they seek forgiveness and restoration for the wrongs they have committed against their family. We see proof of holy boldness at work, when a wife forgives her husband for infidelity and chooses to love him when he is least lovable. When a wayward child finds his father’s arms wide open, longing to welcome him home, we see the positive effect of holy boldness in the healing of a broken heart. The gift of holy boldness is absolutely evident when innocent victims choose forgiveness over revenge.
New believers in the Way were subjected to the most inhumane of crimes. Because they believe that Jesus Christ is Lord of all, many new converts were forced to watch their children suffer unspeakable atrocities before they were put to death. It was only through the means of holy boldness they were able to withstand this pain and suffering, confessing Christ while knowing their confession would cost them their lives.
Have you ever wondered whether you would have enough holy boldness within to help you stand firm in the wake of a devastating life event? Will you live in holy boldness even if your spouse leaves you, your child becomes ill, or your best friend dies? We can learn much from the early church, as they prayed the believers’ prayer together. They place their hope in Jesus completely as He gives them holy boldness to profess faith even in times of suffering and grief. If you are in need of receiving His gift today, join me now in the believers’ prayer of faith: Father, I pray that you will fill us with your holy boldness, that we will stand firm against the threats of this world. We have seen your hand perform great miracles, especially when you saved us from ourselves. In Jesus’ name, help us not only speak Your Word but live our lives with a holy boldness that can only come through knowing you. Amen.
Grace and peace,
Deb Spaulding
Faith UMC - St. Charles, MO
___________________________
© Copyright 2009, Deb Spaulding
All rights reserved
Articles may not be printed in any “for profit” publication without further permission by the author. Articles may be freely distributed via e-mail, reprinted in church bulletins or in other non-profit publications without further permission. Please keep this copyright and Web Site information intact with copied articles.
No comments:
Post a Comment