Daily Devotional
Are You Bold to Speak Out for Christ?
“Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus.”
Acts 4:13
August 13, 2024
Ponder This
These men were bold because they had been with Jesus. They had seen Christ alive and resurrected, and He lived in them. All the forces of Hell could not intimidate them, shut them up, or hold them back. What would happen if a group of people, filled with holy boldness, were turned loose on your city tomorrow? It is the strategy of the devil to keep God’s people silent in an evil time.
Let me tell you what holy boldness is not. Holy boldness is not human courage. There are some people who naturally have an extraordinary amount of courage. That’s not holy boldness; it may be self-confidence. Holy boldness is also not arrogance. Some people say, “Well, I just speak my mind. I’m bold for Jesus.” But they are just arrogant people determined to tell people off. Jesus never did that.
Boldness is saying, “Lord Jesus, if You be for me, who can be against me? Lord Jesus, if You want to use me, I trust You to take care of me. And, Lord, if You choose to let me be put in jail, then I’ll rejoice that I’m counted worthy to suffer shame for Your name. If you choose, Lord Jesus, that I suffer bodily harm, then, Lord, nothing will come to me than what it comes through You first. Lord, I submit myself to you, and I will speak at Your command.” This is holy boldness.
- How have you defined boldness in the past? How might that be different from Scripture’s definition?
- What is the danger of living according to our definition of boldness instead of God’s?
Practice This
Pray the prayer above for boldness, making it your own.
FOR YOUR GIFT TO THE MINISTRY
Front Porch Moments by Gayle Foster
WITH KEY INSIGHTS FROM HER FATHER, ADRIAN ROGERS
I try to unplug each morning with Jesus with just my rocking chair, my Bible, and a pen.
Having a secret place is very important because I know that Jesus is always there waiting for me. I know where I can find Him! His presence is everywhere, but there are places where it is so thick you can cut it with a knife. You may not even have a front porch, but there is a secret place for you as well. God’s invitations are for anyone who will respond. There is no more important request than the one found in Psalm 27:8: “My heart has heard You say, ‘Come and talk with Me.’ And my heart responds, ‘Lord, I am coming.’”
