How to live boldly for Christ

Find out three ways to grow a fearless faith.

Bold.

It’s one of those words that has the power to change lives.

What do you think when you hear or see the word “bold”?

Do you think of similar words like confidence or fearlessness? Do you think of it as an option: bold, italic and underline?

So, what does the Bible tell us about boldness? What’s more, how is boldness significant and necessary for a believer’s life?

Let’s take a look…

Boldness in the Bible

Many Biblical figures displayed boldness, but one of my favorites is Paul. Acts 28:31 states:

He proclaimed the Kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ - with all boldness and without hindrance.

Paul used the power, confidence and fearlessness of God to proclaim Jesus to the people, without hindrance. Wouldn’t you love to get to a place where you display boldness in every aspect of life? After all, aren’t we called to fearlessly live for Jesus. Isn’t this our goal?

I think in order for us to achieve this, we must come to terms with what is keeping us from reaching that goal. And there’s no need to look any further than ourselves. We talk ourselves out of boldness on a regular basis. It can be for a whole host of reasons.

Why we’re often fearful instead of bold

Reasons that we’re not bold…here’s just a few:
•   Our own insecurities
•   Thinking (the lie) that no one cares what we have to say
•   Worried we won’t know what to say
•   Retreating out of fear of judgement

At the end of the day, we don’t live boldly for Christ (usually) because we’re afraid to.

The above verse from Acts could have easily said “he proclaimed the Kingdom…with pretty good boldness and some hindrance”, but it doesn’t.

Despite his own fears and flaws, Paul could be bold because he knew God uses the broken to proclaim His love to others. God’s grace is powerful. God chose Paul, a man who tried so hard to persecute the church, to be a partner. The Lord of Lords chose Paul. He had no reason not to be bold.

And this is true for us today. In Romans 8:31 we read, “If God is for us, who can be against us?” With God’s strength, we can boldly walk up to the student sitting by themselves, or befriend the new person at work, or share the Gospel with our friends, because when we do, we can help change the world for the Kingdom of God.

Three types of boldness

Here are three types of boldness that you can apply today:

1. Silence: Sometimes boldness is listening

Matthew 26:62 states, “The high priest stood up and said to Jesus, Are you not going to answer? But Jesus remained silent.” In that moment, Jesus knew the power in His silence.

How you can show silent boldness:

• When your friends or the people around you are gossiping, and you decide to not say anything, no matter how difficult it may be.

2. Speech: Sometimes boldness is speaking

Matthew 9:2 states, “Take heart son, your sins are forgiven”. In that moment, Jesus knew the power in what His speech would mean for the man.

How you can show boldness in your speech:

• Giving someone a compliment instead of just thinking it in your head.
• Speak up for the vulnerable, use your words to speak for those who can’t.

3. Step: Sometimes boldness means walking out in faith

Matthew 14:25 states, “Shortly before dawn, Jesus went out to them walking on the lake”. In that moment, Jesus knew the power in stepping on the water.

How you can show boldness by stepping out:

• Instead of sitting with your friends one day, intentionally go and sit with someone who is by themself.

In our own lives we have opportunities daily to be bold in our silence, our speech, and in our steps. And when we ask God to lead us and depend on His strength, we have all the tools needed to be bold.