Boldness

"Therefore, since we have such a hope, we are very bold." 2 Corinthians 3:12

This verse was the first verse of our Epistle reading on Sunday morning. It's always easy to skip over that first verse in a reading, because you're just settling in, or readjusting, but look at it. Since we have such a hope....what hope is that? The previous verses are talking about the new convenant with God and the glory brought by it...but what is that? HEAVEN! So, since since Heaven is our hope, we are very bold. Bold to do what?

I was impressed this past week with our Synodical President who was asked to testify before a committee on abortion and contraception in the new healthcare law. The concern from many churches is that there is a mandate to provide contraception and pills that basically terminate a pregnancy, even if there is religious objection. The words shared were clear, concise and BOLD.

But what about us? Those of us who are not deeply theologically trained? Those of us "regular folk". How are we bold? I am ashamed of myself at many times because I "work" for God, yet, how bold am I? I fall very short in my boldness most often.

So, maybe it's not about the boldness of our actions. That's a good thing. But maybe, just maybe, we need to be bold not in ourselves or our actions, but bold in talking about God. Bold in falling into His grace and mercy. Bold in forgiveness. Bold in living joy-filled lives, because we have a hope and confidence that as children of God, heaven is ours.

Let's get bold. Bold in speaking about how imperfect we are, yet are forgiven by God. Bold in speaking about how God loves us, in spite of us turning our backs on Him. Let's be bold, because God was bold for us. He sent His only Son, Jesus, the sinless sacrifice, to be our stand-in. We'll stumble, we'll fall. We'll even be timid. But I pray that in this world that needs to hear good news more than ever, we'll be the ones BOLDLY saying, "It's not about what you've done wrong. It's about what God has done for you." Building those connections, speaking in love, and allowing the Word, the love, the joy of God to penetrate and permeate the deepest places of all of our souls!