How to become a bold Christian

DAILY BIBLE READING:

1 Kings 1:1-53 
Acts 4:1-37 
Psalm 124:1-8 
Proverbs 16:24

BIBLE VERSE(S) FOR TODAY:

Acts 4:13 "When they observed the boldness of Peter and John and realized that they were uneducated and untrained men, they were amazed and recognized that they had been with Jesus."

REFLECTIONS ON TODAY'S BIBLE VERSE(S):

The world in which the disciples lived was dangerous. It was like going on a Christian mission trip ... to Iran. As you share Jesus in that context, you know that you are going to get jailed, maybe beaten, and possibly killed. 

This was 'normal' for the disciples.

But, they were men with fears just like us. They didn't enjoy rejection. They didn't like to feel pain. And death was certainly something they didn't like to think about. Sharing the Gospel would almost certainly bring on at least two of these things if not three.

They may have grappled with the desire to keep quiet. To exalt self-preservation.

But, they didn't. The Gospel was too important. People needed to be warned about the Day of Judgment. They needed to know about God's love and what Jesus did for them to secure them a place in God's family if they would only repent and believe.

So, they spoke those powerful words that could get them killed. And they did it with boldness.

How could they be so bold in such a terrifying environment? 

Well, they prayed for boldness (see Acts 4:29-31). They asked for the courage to do the hard thing and God gave it to them. 

But, they also spent much time with Jesus. That's what our Verse for the Day says about them. It was obvious that they had spent much time with the Lord Jesus Christ.

Now, for those disciples, that meant that as Jesus' disciples it was obvious that He had taught them well. The leaders of the city could see "Jesus" all over the disciples.

For us, we've never personally met Jesus. But, we can spend so much time with Him that it becomes obvious to others that we are His disciples. How can we spend time with Him? Just have a Bible in your hand often throughout the course of each day. Relish it like you would a delicious meal. Read it. Reflect and meditate on it. Memorize it. Study it. Get it into your mind and heart so that God's fingerprints are all over you.

And when you do, friend, you will develop boldness. You won't be able to keep God's truths hidden. You'll come to enjoy them and realize that people need to hear about what Jesus has done for them and how God has called them to live.

So, work toward being a bold Christian unafraid to share the Gospel. Get that way by praying for boldness and then spend much time with Jesus in His Word.