Bold and Courageous

What does being bold and courageous look like?  It does not mean we pick fights 0r make harsh comments.  Quite the contrary.  It means we are bold and courageous enough to do the right thing – to be kind to everyone – to be gracious even when someone has wronged us. 

There may come a time when we must stand up for what’s right. The apostles found themselves in this position.  In Acts 5 they were arrested for teaching about Jesus.  The Jewish council wanted to kill them, but Gamaliel talked the council out of it. 

The apostles were beaten and released.   Acts 5:41 tells us “Then they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name.”

Remember when Christ overthrew the tables of the moneychangers?  It was during Passover.  In the temple He saw those who were selling the animals used in sacrifice -oxen, sheep, and pigeons.  The money changers were there too. 

Jesus made a whip of cords and “He drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and the oxen.  And He poured out the coins of the moneychangers and overturned their tables. And He told those who sold the pigeons, ‘Take these things away; do not make my Father’s house a house of trade” (John 2:15-16).

That was certainly bold, wasn’t it?  Jesus was fully confident when He spoke out against those who took advantage of the people – plus they were selling right there in the temple!  This was wrong and Jesus needed to stop it. 

Now, I’m not talking about any of us turning over tables.  Hopefully, we will never have to do anything like that.  Still there may come a time when we must stand up for what’s right and speak out against evil. 

We can take courage and remember Jesus did when it was necessary. 

Other times Jesus was bold and courageous while being much calmer.  John 8:3-11 is a good example.   

The scribes and Pharisees wanted to test Jesus.  They caught a woman in the very act of adultery and brought her to Jesus.  They said under Moses’ law she should be stoned.  They asked Jesus what He had to say about it. 

Jesus did not yell out against their cold hearts or their unjust motives.  No.  He bent down on the ground and silently started writing in the dirt.  They kept asking for an answer. 

“He stood up and said to them, ‘Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her.’  ⁸ And once more he bent down and wrote on the ground “(John 8:7-8).

The men didn’t speak again.  Instead, they all went away one by one beginning with the oldest.  Jesus asked the woman where all the men went. “Has no one condemned you?’  She said, ‘No one, Lord.’  And Jesus said, ‘Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more” (John 8:10b-11). 

Even though He got His message across without being contentious about it this was still a bold and courageous act. 

May we always choose to follow in our Savior’s footsteps.  Let's be bold and courageous for Him.

Christ above all things - Robin