City Life Starter

Written by Paul Lane

The Word

⁸ Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers of the people and elders of Israel: ⁹ If we this day are judged for a good deed done to a helpless man, by what means he has been made well, ¹⁰ let it be known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by Him this man stands here before you whole. ¹¹ This is the stone, which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone.’ ¹² Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”

Acts 4:8-12 (NKJV)

Reflection

There is a boldness in children that is born from ignorance. Not defined here as stupidity, but ignorance from the unknowingness of youth. I say ignorance because that is the exact skill that is needed for boldness. In the case of bravery, one essential ingredient needed is fear. If one has no fear, one has nothing to be brave about.  (Thank you, C. S. Lewis.)  Likewise with boldness, if one has no adversity to ignore, there is nothing to be bold about.

I do like Earl’s paraphrase definition for boldness from this Sunday: “The expression of complete confidence that is rooted in truth, despite popular opinion, uneasiness, or danger.”  I hope I copied that correctly. I think this captures another aspect of boldness; one needs confidence to have boldness.  But it is not enough to simply be ignorant, least boldness prevails in every stupid adventure. Adding confidence to the mix should mean that there is some rationale behind it all.  For boldness usually is also perceived as rudeness because often that which is being ignored is the thoughts, feelings, or consideration of another.  Doing such things with no good reason is indeed rude.  But having confidence in the truth, or the rightness of your cause is an enduring confidence that energizes your boldness.

Finally, in this series, boldness is associated with passion, which sounded completely wrong to me.  So, I had to meditate on it.  Yes, the bold are usually passionate in some way, but it didn’t immediately occur to me that this would mean Godly passion. Then it occurred to me that this was a heart issue. It is the heart that speaks and chooses to account for or ignore another person. And with that, it clicked.  Boldness – “the expression of complete confidence of the truth, which fortifies the heart against adversity.”

Application

There are many things one can be bold about, but we ought not to let our boldness, or our passions, run wild.  They must be governed by rightness and goodness.  Just as Peter was filled with the Holy Spirit, so we too should be filled with the Holy Spirit in our boldness to declare God’s word.  I believe that boldness starts with fortifying your heart.  If one knows the right answer to a problem, it is difficult to talk them out of it.  In this is boldness most strongly supported from the heart.  Taking in God’s word, and knowing it deeply, will give you boldness sufficient for the day.

Prayer

Dear Lord, send to me your Hold Spirit, that He might shine in my heart, energize my spirit, and guide my way.  May your hands hold my heart and fashion it, that my faith might be restored, and that I might boldly proclaim your kingdom. In Jesus’ precious name.  Amen.