Scripture
Matthew 10:28; 31-33
Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.
So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.
Whoever acknowledges me before others, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven. But whoever disowns me before others, I will disown before my Father in heaven. (Matthew 10:28; 31-33)
As a Christian man, you must fear God and boldly profess to your world that you belong to Jesus Christ. Jesus was addressing His disciples, warning them of the dangers and difficulties ahead and even the reality of fear as they faced hate-filled people. Some would even want to kill them because of their faith in Him. In the midst of their fear of men, Jesus reminded His followers to fear God alone. He is the only One Who can destroy both body and soul, the temporary and the eternal. God, the rightful judge, is in charge of a person’s eternal destiny. Fear only God, not man. Jesus promised that if His disciples would openly profess before the world that they were followers of Him, He would openly and personally profess before the Father that they belonged to Him.
On the other hand, if a person denies—either by action, words, or silence—that they are followers of Jesus, He would deny to God the Father that He personally knew them. As a Christian man, you must fear God and boldly profess that you belong to Jesus Christ.
Lessons on Holy Boldness
- Choose to be bold in your Christian faith. That does not mean being obnoxious, rude, militant, or difficult but being openly unashamed to confess that you are a follower of Jesus Christ.
- Fear God; have a holy, reverential awe for Who He is. Commit that you will live to please Him. Your fear of God should exceed your fear of what people will say or think. Remember, it is much easier to please God than to please people.
- Ask the Lord each day to give you opportunities to express your faith and to tell others about what He has done in your life. God has given you a testimony and He wants you to share it.
- Christianity is a personal faith, not a private faith. I have heard people say, “My faith is private.” It shouldn’t be! If you are allowing God to continually work in and through your life, you will be proud of your faith.
- Ask the Lord to forgive you for those times when you didn’t openly demonstrate your faith. Seek His forgiveness when you have been too shy or even embarrassed to stand up for Jesus and a biblical worldview.
Oswald Chambers said: The remarkable thing about God is that when you fear God, you fear nothing else, whereas if you do not fear God, you fear everything else.
Today, pray for a holy boldness, one that stands strong on God’s Word and does so with great grace.