“Be Bold” by Justin March

“Boldness is contagious.  When we are bold for Christ, enduring hardships for our faith, others are provoked to do the same.”Philippians 1:14

“The spirit of God emboldens us to proclaim the gospel without fear.” 1 Thessalonians 2:2 

This weekend, we will be attending The Bold Gathering in Nebraska.  It is a conference held by Lutheran Men in Mission, and 70 men from across the nation will be coming together to listen to speakers, fellowship, and rejoice in the good news of God’s love and grace.  I pray that it will be a time of healing, rest, and rejuvenation, and I pray that we will leave the conference empowered to be bold.

When I first signed up for this weekend, I was intrigued by the word “bold.”  It is not a word that is part of my everyday vocabulary, and it is definitely not a word I have used to describe the man I am.  Dictionaries define “bold” as a person who shows the ability to take risks, be courageous, and protrude confidence.  It is a characteristic that encompasses bravery, leadership, and strength.  And when I think about the way I go out in this world and portray the messages God wants me to portray, I am left wondering if I am truly bold?

You see, God is asking us to be bold in a world that breeds fear and separation.  He is asking us to stand tall and proclaim his word.  And God knows we will face adversity, ridicule, and loathing as we speak the truths about his love and forgiveness for all mankind.  It will be difficult to show the strength needed to live out his mission, but he promises to stand beside us as we do our best to be bold.

The world is not going to change just because we go out and proclaim that it should.  We need to be prepared for the opposition, and we need to be confident in the messages we share.  We need to understand there will be failures, and we need to understand the climb will be difficult.  But, we also need to understand that God will be with us on our journeys, and he will equip with us with whatever is needed to remain bold.

So, go out and be bold!  Tell others about God’s undying love and amazing grace!  Then, allow your light to shine so bright that others are blinded!  Blind to the evils of this world, and blind to the messages of darkness, depression, and hate.  For when we are bold, others see something in us they long for, and the conversations begin to take shape.  We may not think we have the strength to be bold, but as God takes our hand and guides us, he gives us the courage needed to step out of our comfort zones, proclaim his word, and help others find their way to the cross.  We just need to pray for help, engulf God’s strength, and build a life that is bold!