Be Audaciously Bold for our Savior Jesus
Some individuals are just bold, not shying away from anyone they encounter. Maybe you are a person like this, and maybe you are not. There are definitely people categories of ‘types’ of people, and by the time we reach adulthood, we usually know our ‘type.’ Nonetheless, despite our personal ‘type’ we like to claim, as a Christian, we are called to be MORE IN CHRIST JESUS!
Yesterday, while attending a follow-up appointment with my doctor, I met a little 4-year-old who already knew her ‘type,’ and let me be first to say, her personality was contagious. My next-door neighbor also has a little 4-year-old with a similar personality ‘type.’ In studying God’s Word today, there is a truth the Lord would have the rest of us (the adults) to learn from these two precious little girls.
See this scene in your mind—
Four adult ladies are sitting in the waiting room chairs, facing each other, engaged in conversation. In walks a little girl with her family (dad & mom, who is holding a baby). They have come through the examination area and are checking out to go home. The little girl is excitedly asking: “Can we go home now?” (a question her parents may have heard often during the doctor visit).
As the parents turn toward the receptionist, the little girl turns her attention to the four of us sitting there, talking. This precious little one comes around to our group of chairs, looks at us, and boldly asks: “Can you move that?”
Now the object (the ‘that’) she referred to was a purse resting in the middle chair that separated the two ladies that sat across from my friend Edwina and myself.
To say that she charmed us all with her actions is to put it mildly.
As soon as Lori moved her purse, this little girl climbed into the middle chair and began a conversation with Lori.
How old are you?
She held up five fingers, proving (with her mom’s help) that she was truly still four.
Only minutes passed before her parents were ready to leave, and our precious four-year-old friend looked at Lori, replying, “I can’t talk anymore. I’ve got to go.”
One of my friends laughingly said: “I hope she outgrows her shyness,” to which the mom replied: “Believe it or not, she used to be shy.”
As she jumped from her middle chair, she walked to the entrance with her parents, but before leaving, she turned and retorted: “I’m sorry that I can’t stay longer.”
May we Be Audaciously Bold.
Yes, brother & sister-in-Christ, May we Be Audaciously Bold for our Savior Jesus!
“Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.”
(The First Letter of Paul to the Corinthians 1: 25 NASB)
- Do we look foolish to our unbelieving friends when we display the qualities of Christ through our words and actions?
- Do we look foolish to the lost world when we walk by faith rather than by sight?
- Do we think as Jesus thinks?
- Do we feel compassion for others as Jesus does?
- Do we act as Jesus would have us act—even if in all these ways, we allow ourselves to look foolish to the watching world?
- Do we display the world’s wisdom or the wisdom God?
The apostle Paul encourages us how to behave as followers of Christ, as believers, as the Redeemed ones. Each word we speak, each action we perform, and each thought we dwell upon—needs to be bathed, to know the full immersion of the Living Water. Walk with a godly focus—as we ask ourselves: Is this what God wants or is this what I want?
“For indeed Jews ask for signs and Greeks search for wisdom;
(The First Letter of Paul to the Corinthians 1: 22-29 NASB)
but we preach Christ crucified,
to Jews a stumbling block and to Gentiles foolishness,
but to those who are called,
both Jews and Greeks,
Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.
[Hallelujah & Amen]
Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men,
and the weakness of God is stronger than men.
[Again, Hallelujah & Amen]
For consider your calling, brethren, that there were not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble;
but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise,
and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong,
and the base things of the world and the despised God has chosen,
the things that are not,
so that He may nullify the things that are,
so that no many may boast before God.”
To Jews—
To Gentiles—
That God would somehow save the world through a crucified man on a cross indeed appears to be utter foolishness.
Unbelievable!!!
Nevertheless, THE TRUTH IS THE TRUTH!
& the Bible tells us so!
“By this we know that we abide in Him and He is us,
(The First Letter of John 4: 13-15 NASB)
because He has given us of His Spirit.
We have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son to be the Savior of the world.
Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God,
God abides in him,
and he in God.”
The wisdom of the world says this is narrow-minded thinking. They also ask, “How can you believe this with blind faith?”
Just complete craziness!
BUT—
- Divine wisdom tells us (who believe Jesus at His word) that this is an extraordinary demonstration of God’s mercy, love & grace.
- We are called to be in a relationship with God that turns things upside down and every which way, right.
- The wisdom of God causes us to embrace what seems foolish to the watching world.
- The wisdom of God allows us to embrace—Being Audaciously Bold for our Savior Jesus!
For you see, one of the first Bible verses I ever memorized tells us WHY—
“I have been crucified with Christ;
(The Letter of Paul to the Galatians 2: 20 NASB)
and it is no longer I who live,
but Christ lives in me;
and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God,
who loved me and gave Himself up for me.”