Context is key when reading Scripture.
The wicked flee though no one pursues, but the righteous are as bold as a lion. -Proverbs 28:1
Therefore, since we have such a hope, we are very bold. -2 Corinthians 3:12
What is boldness?
Knowing who you are, making decisions, and walking those out.
A man approached me as I was getting out of my car one night. He was a man clearly in need and with a limp. He asked me for food. We were on the outskirts of a grocery store parking lot that was about to close. We went in, I told him if he picked out what he wanted I’d pay for it. He seemed timid, like he knew he wasn’t supposed to be there. The store employees seemed to know who he was and gave off that they didn’t like him. He was my guest.
He picked out a few things, mostly meat, and we went up to the register. He starts telling me about how his leg has been bothering him and how he needs medicine for it. “Mmhmm” was my response, in my head it was ‘just wait, I’ve got what you need and it’s not medicine, it’s the love of Jesus’.
We exit the store, two college guys hand him a beer that he puts in his pocket. I ask him if I can pray for his leg. He sits on a curb and lets me. I touch his knee, a short prayer, 10 seconds tops. In my spirit I see fire go into him and his body reacts as if that’s what happened. I ask him to test it out. He gets up and walks a bit and says it’s better, but still hurting. Alright, can I pray again? Of course man! And he puts my hand where the pain is on the outside of his hip. I feel and see nothing in my spirit this time. I ask him to test it out again.
He’s walking around me, no hitch in his walk, beaming and laughing. And all of a sudden he stops and looks directly at me and in a very serious tone asks me “Who are you?” (as if I were an angel or something). I chose to be bold in my response, “I’m a disciple of Jesus, and He loves you man. Hes showed you His love tonight by giving you food and healing you.” He stares at me in disbelief, takes his groceries, and walks off beaming, laughing, and nearly skipping off to who knows where. -My life October 2013. I shared this on my world race and people got healed.
Miracles, signs, and wonders make sense only in the context of Love. Silver or gold we don’t have, Peter said to the man, but what I do have I give to you, in the name of Jesus walk- and the formerly lame man walked (summary of Acts 3:6). What did Peter and John have? They had the Kingdom of God inside of them- the King’s domain. Whatever the King wants to happen in His Kingdom happens because He has dominion over it. The King of Kings had given them the power and authority to advance His Kingdom through His dearly loved children, His sons. Peter and John knew who they were, they made a decision to act on it, and walked it out. Because of their boldness a man who couldn’t walk his entire life could now walk in love, because the Kingdom had come into His life. God’s Kingdom is a Kingdom of love, joy, peace, and righteousness. Righteousness simply means right standing with God- given to us through Jesus Christ.
If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in them and they in God. And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them. This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: In this world we are like Jesus. -1 John 4:15-17 (emphasis added)
Meditate on that and think of this…
Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. -Ephesians 5:1-2
Jesus said…
Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. -John 14:12
Likewise…
A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone when he is fully trained will be like his teacher. -Luke 6:40
And of course…
Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. -John 15:13
Were Peter and John Apostles because they were given a title, or because they knew who they were as sons of God and chose to walk that out? Which is more true, that they were Apostles or that they are sons of God? Which is more true about you and me- a title or that God has adopted us into His family, as His dearly loved children?
Boldness gets your heart pumping. It’s uncomfortable to “risk” things for Jesus. I want stories like this to be in my everyday life, not three years ago- that’s a challenge to myself.
When unplanned things happen in your life, when life squeezes you, what comes out? The love of Christ, or something else? Jesus is our example for everything, let’s be like Him. 🙂
Here’s the mystery, Christ in you and me- the hope of glory!
