Today I Choose Boldness...

Today I choose boldness. To boldly live my life to honor God in all that I say and do.
"The wicked man flees though no one pursues, but the righteous are as bold as a lion." (Psalm 28:1) I want to be bold for Christ, to speak of His word boldly and to show others that I am a follower of Christ through my actions and words.
Boldness is not easy! It's much easier to sit back and just not say anything, to be silent. But we are called to live differently, to not blend in with the rest of the world and to speak the truth in love. Acts 4 gives us a great example of boldness through Peter and John. They were seized and put in prison overnight for teaching and healing a man in the name of Jesus. After a night in jail the elders and teachers of the law met in Jerusalem. They questioned Peter and John, "By what power or what name did you do this?". Peter answered them, "It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed." Here is how the Sanhedrin reacted, "When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus." Then they commanded Peter and John to not speak or teach in the name of Jesus. Peter and John replied, "Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God's sight to obey you rather than God. For we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard." Chapter 4 ends with this prayer from Peter and John, "Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness."
I was really challenged, do I pray for boldness to speak God's word? Do I look for ways that I can let me faith be known on a daily basis with people I know or with strangers? We have it easy in America, we have religious freedom, our lives are not threatened for proclaiming we are a follower of Christ, but we still shy away from speaking of God's word. When we think about it, what's really at stake, people thinking we are strange? Even if we risk a relationship, isn't it more important to share the Gospel with someone then to worry about what they will think about us? If we are a believer, we have the best news, the best gift that we could ever tell someone about; the Gospel...that Jesus died for our sins! Instead of being bold, we sit back and stay silent because we don't want to offend anyone. I say, we need to start being bold! Maybe we could start with a stranger, after all, we'll never see them again!
I had an opportunity to be bold this past weekend with a stranger. I was at Kyle's work Christmas party and while I was in line for food I struck up a conversation with the women behind me. After some small talk, she asked me where I worked. At that moment, I realized that I had two choices, I could boldly say that I worked at our church or I could do so sheepishly. I chose to say it with boldness. And you know what, this women was a believer! I would have never found that out if I hadn't spoke boldly and honestly. I guess I could have avoided the conversation all together, but I am so glad that I didn't choose that option!
That might be a silly little way of boldness, but it was a step towards a life that is bold for my Savior! So, today I choose boldness!