Friday, April 16, 2010
If only I could be so bold. If only I had the faith that this boy on the right has. He looks at this incredibly steep hill as an adventure, a joyous opportunity to do something exciting- to skateboard. Whereas others would only see danger, he sees fun.
I want to live in this world with an adventurous faith. We need to take on this world with a sense of adventure, to seize opportunities, and not shy away fro situations that scare us. The early church gathered together regularly and prayed for boldness- over and over and over again. And here’s the good news. . the more they prayed for it, the more they were filled with boldness. This gift enabled them to reach out in the midst of a “new time, a scary time, a time of uncertainty.” But, in reaching out, they changed many lives for the better.
Do we pray for boldness enough- especially to live by bolder faith in Jesus? If we were more bold in our faith, what kind of impact would it have? Ponder that. Describe it. If you have a chance, please share with me what you think a bold faith would look like.
TODAY’S TEXT- Acts 4: 23-
23 After they were released, they went to their friends and reported what the chief priests and the elders had said to them. 24When they heard it, they raised their voices together to God and said, ‘Sovereign Lord, who made the heaven and the earth, the sea, and everything in them, 25it is you who said by the Holy Spirit through our ancestor David, your servant:
“Why did the Gentiles rage,
and the peoples imagine vain things?
26The kings of the earth took their stand,
and the rulers have gathered together
against the Lord and against his Messiah.”
27For in this city, in fact, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, gathered together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, 28to do whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take place. 29And now, Lord, look at their threats, and grant to your servants to speak your word with all boldness, 30while you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus.’ 31When they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God with boldness
Bold faith--not apologizing for your beliefs, standing firm on your morals, maintaining high standards at home with spouse and children and letting others know that you feel uncompromised in practicing your faith in everything you do each day.....even if disagreed by peers, colleagues and friends.
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