In our world today, it can be easy for us to become discouraged as we focus on the circumstances around us and on what we can control and see. Sometimes even more for us as Christians. As society and culture gets further and further away from the Lord, it’s tempting to lose heart—but imperative that we don’t.
Walking boldly in an anti-Christian culture isn’t easy. It requires that we put our faith and trust in the Father, even when we know that we could very well be rejected by friends and family.
Even though we may be rejected by the world because we choose to follow Christ over the flesh, we have to remember that Christ Himself also suffers rejection.
The Struggle Teens Face
This is easier said than done. Speaking about walking boldly in Christ is one thing, but actually doing what God’s Word says is another. This is what the Apostle Paul was trying to teach his “son in the faith” Timothy when he was leader of the church of Ephesus. This is shown when the Apostle Paul discusses the “latter times”; a time when people will “give heed to deceiving and spiritual doctrines of demons” as 1 Timothy 4:1-2 says.
Timothy, like many of us young people today, was looked down upon because of his youth. But sometimes, God gives children wisdom that goes beyond their years.
In answer to the struggle Timothy was facing, Paul wrote, “Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity. Till I come, give attention to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.” (1 Timothy 4:12-13)
Paul was reminding Timothy to not let people look down on him because he was young. Instead, he gave Timothy a challenge: be an example to those around you. We are to be an example not just to the believers around us, but also to the world at large. Not worrying about what other people say or think about us, because our confidence comes from God.
How do we do this? As Christians, we’re an example to the world through word (i.e. conversation), our conduct, showing the love of God, our faith and trust in God, and being pure, both sexually and in our minds.
But once again, speaking about walking in boldness is one thing, putting what God says into action is another. Because of the world we live in, it can become easy for us as Christians to dismiss or ignore the importance of our actions around people.
But our actions matter. Even when we’re young. Especially when we’re young.
What True Boldness Looks Like
Boldness is more than just confidence. Click To TweetTrue Christ-led boldness is a confidence that comes from not just knowing who we are in Christ, but that also pours out into how we display that confidence to the world.
We’re called to be bold…until our boldness becomes pride.
The early Apostles demonstrated a boldness that we as Christians today should not just recall and speak about, but also learn from. How did they approach their situations? Confident in the Lord Jesus Christ and what He had done for them and all humanity.
Acts 4:31 says, “And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness.”
This takes place after Peter and John were tried before the Sanhedrin on account of preaching about Jesus Christ as the Promised Messiah. Peter and John’s boldness in standing up for speaking about Christ is something that should inspire us today. However, we shouldn’t be surprised by Peter and John’s boldness. Through their time with Christ, they came to learn a boldness and confidence that supersedes the opinions of people.
Just like Peter and John, we too can be bold. Standing fast in the faith we proclaim to the world. However, understanding that we will be rejected by the world doesn’t mean it won’t hurt.
Rejection is painful, but the rewards for our faithfulness to God are worth it.
Walking in the boldness of God is more important than the opinions of people. Let’s not forget it.
This was very helpful thank you.