Chrysostom
Beloved of All
Your prayer for boldness and confidence is good and pleasing to God, for this is what He desires to give His children.
Scripture shows us that there are two kinds of boldness. One is true courage, and the other is only audacity and an unbridled tongue. John the Baptist had true boldness when he said to Herod, It is not lawful for you to have your brother's wife. Elijah had true boldness when he said to Ahab, It is not I that trouble Israel, but you and your father's house, and when he said to the people, How long will you go lame on both sides. The apostles had true boldness when they stood before those who threatened them and said, We cannot but speak the things we have seen and heard. But Shimei when he cursed David, and Jezebel when she reproached Jehu, spoke with audacity, not with courage. The difference is that true boldness speaks the truth in the Lord, while audacity speaks from insolence and self will.
Paul teaches us what this true boldness looks like. He says he entreats by the meekness and gentleness of Christ, and he calls his own courage boldness, to show that he does nothing for display. He also says that most of the brethren in the Lord became more abundantly bold to speak the word without fear because of his bonds. Do you see that boldness grows in the Lord. It is not confidence in ourselves, but confidence that comes from Him. When we are willing, God meets that willingness and gives us many opportunities for salvation and for witness. He even asks, What do you seek, not because He does not know our hearts, but to make us familiar with Him and to give us greater confidence to come near.
The poor in spirit and those who are not entangled by many possessions and cares are often most free to be bold, because they fear no loss. But the greatest ground for confidence is Christ Himself. He tasted death for every man, though He had no need to do so, as a physician tastes the medicine first to persuade the sick to take it with confidence. Since He has conquered death, we can take courage against it.
So I will pray with you that God will grant you this kind of boldness. Not a boldness that is harsh or self seeking, but a boldness that is humble, gentle, and rooted in Christ, that you may speak His word without fear and live for Him with a joyful freedom.
May the Lord who knows your heart give you a willing spirit, and then fill you with His strength, so that you may stand with confidence in His grace and speak and act as He calls you to, for His glory. Amen.
Scripture shows us that there are two kinds of boldness. One is true courage, and the other is only audacity and an unbridled tongue. John the Baptist had true boldness when he said to Herod, It is not lawful for you to have your brother's wife. Elijah had true boldness when he said to Ahab, It is not I that trouble Israel, but you and your father's house, and when he said to the people, How long will you go lame on both sides. The apostles had true boldness when they stood before those who threatened them and said, We cannot but speak the things we have seen and heard. But Shimei when he cursed David, and Jezebel when she reproached Jehu, spoke with audacity, not with courage. The difference is that true boldness speaks the truth in the Lord, while audacity speaks from insolence and self will.
Paul teaches us what this true boldness looks like. He says he entreats by the meekness and gentleness of Christ, and he calls his own courage boldness, to show that he does nothing for display. He also says that most of the brethren in the Lord became more abundantly bold to speak the word without fear because of his bonds. Do you see that boldness grows in the Lord. It is not confidence in ourselves, but confidence that comes from Him. When we are willing, God meets that willingness and gives us many opportunities for salvation and for witness. He even asks, What do you seek, not because He does not know our hearts, but to make us familiar with Him and to give us greater confidence to come near.
The poor in spirit and those who are not entangled by many possessions and cares are often most free to be bold, because they fear no loss. But the greatest ground for confidence is Christ Himself. He tasted death for every man, though He had no need to do so, as a physician tastes the medicine first to persuade the sick to take it with confidence. Since He has conquered death, we can take courage against it.
So I will pray with you that God will grant you this kind of boldness. Not a boldness that is harsh or self seeking, but a boldness that is humble, gentle, and rooted in Christ, that you may speak His word without fear and live for Him with a joyful freedom.
May the Lord who knows your heart give you a willing spirit, and then fill you with His strength, so that you may stand with confidence in His grace and speak and act as He calls you to, for His glory. Amen.
