Dictionary.com defines bold(ness) as not hesitating or fearful in the face of actual or possible danger or rebuff; courageous and daring (ie. a bold hero) or not hesitating to break the rules of propriety (ie. He apologized for being so bold as to speak to the emperor).
And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness. {Acts 4:31}
Boldness in Strong’s is #3954, parrhesia (par-rhay-see’-ah), and is defined as all out spokenness, that is, frankness, bluntness, publicity; by implication assurance.
Boldness. I desire boldness in speaking the Name of Jesus to those who don’t know them. Not just by saying, “Yes, I’m a Christian” and “Yes, I go to church.” And not just in my actions but in telling people about Jesus’ sacrifice for me and for the whole world. That he did so out of love.
Part of why I stopped blogging this summer unexpectedly is because I have this holy discontentment with my life. And I’m not talking about my job (although, there are days when it leaves something to be desired but that is a whole other post) or my finances (again, whole other post) or even my singleness (let’s not go there, m’kay?). But a discontentment with my walk.
I am discontent with my lack of boldness in proclaiming the Name of Jesus in my life. When I am placed in a situation where I can speak of the Goodness of God in my life, it is as if I’ve become a mute! Now, I know actions speak louder than words but sometimes the Word needs to be spoken. I even feel this way when I am praying.
My hearts true desire is to walk out this life – His Life in me – to bring Him glory. Not for any other reason. To not back down when things get tough – and they are getting tougher. The Bible says that the days will “wax worse and worse.”
But I have Hope. Hope in Him who lives in me to do the things that I can not do. To be strong when I am weak. I shine through me.
In our Sunday School class today, one woman brought up a trip to a glass museum she went on this past week. During her tour of the museum, there was a demonstration by a master glass blower. In how she described it, it reminded me of how God deals with us, His children. She mentioned the glass being put in the fire. Then, it is removed from the fire on this rod where the “breath of life” is breathed into the glass all while the rod is turned so that all the sides of the piece of glass are even. The glass is then placed back in the furnace so that it becomes pliable again. She mentioned that during the demonstration, the glass blowers showed the audience how pliable the glass was when it was hot and that they told them that there are many more things that can be down with glass than with pottery. And that when this glass is held up to light, it shines so brightly and with so many different colors. Each piece is uniquely different and is for a different use.
Each child of God is a different vessel with a different use or calling but with the same goal in mind – to magnify and shine God to others. With boldness.
Living a Blessed Life 