Courageous
Christian Living
“…pray that in proclaiming
God’s message
I may speak boldly and
courageously,
as I ought to
speak.” Ephesians 6:20
Not
being afraid. Not being intimidated.
For
me, Livin’ Out Loud 4 Jesus is just
that. It is not being ashamed to live—my actions and my words—as a Christian
every day in every way—all without being abrasive. It’s about my relationship
with other people, whether Christians or not, as well as before Jehovah God.
As
a Christian, first and foremost, I am commanded to love the Lord God with all
my heart, all my soul, and all my mind… and my might. [Matthew 22:37-38; Deuteronomy
6:5]
However,
sometimes, my bold courage wavers.
Like when people ridicule me for my beliefs. When society condemns me for having
such strong convictions. When the enemy of my thoughts tells me not to bother
Him with petty matters and causes my approach to the very Lord God I’m to love
is done apprehensively. My prayers become lackadaisical and meaningless words
rather than confident, persistent bold ones as Jesus compared to seeking a neighbor
or friend with persistence, “…ask, and it will be given
to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.
For everyone who asks, receives; and he
who seeks, finds; and to him who knocks, it will be opened.” [Luke
11:5-13]
The very title of Christian implies being an imitator of Jesus Christ, a follower as in “follow the leader.” I’m to do as He does. The Message Bible says it this way: “Watch what God does, and then you do it, like children who learn proper behavior from their parents. Mostly what God does is love you. Keep company with him and learn a life of love. Observe how Christ loved us. His love was not cautious but extravagant. He didn’t love in order to get something from us but to give everything of himself to us. Love like that.” [Ephesians 5:1-2] Which brings me to the second greatest command of a Christian life…
“Love your neighbor as yourself.” [Matthew
22:39; Leviticus 19:18]
To live the Christian life, as an imitator
of Jesus Christ, takes bold courage. It is not for the faint of
heart. He loved His enemies, and did good to those who hated Him. He turned the
other cheek. He gave not only his shirt but His life for others—the whole
world. [Luke 6:27-29; John 3:16]
When
the world tells us to keep our Christian faith to ourselves, they want to
silence us, yet Jesus also tells us that if we are ashamed of Him (embarrassed
to wear the Christian nametag) before men, that He will in turn be ashamed of
us. [Mark 8:38; 14:29]
It takes bold courage to Live Out Loud 4 Jesus.
that I will not disgrace myself
nor be ashamed in anything,
but that with courage
and the utmost freedom of speech,
even now as always,
Christ will be magnified
and exalted in my body,
whether by life or by death.”
Philippians 1:20 Amplified
Bible
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