“The wicked man flees though no one pursues, but the righteous are bold as a lion.”
– Proverbs 28:1 (NIV)
The definition of boldness is, “to be confident, to be secure, or to put trust in.” In today’s society we see boldness as almost arrogant or brash. However, looking in Jesus’ life it’s clear to see He was bold, yet not prideful. Where did He put that confidence and trust?
A perfect example is in John 8 when the pharisees tried to trap Jesus by bringing a woman caught in the act of adultery to him. This woman, by the Law of Moses, was supposed to be condemned to death by stoning.
The pharisees approached Jesus and asked Him, “What should we do?”
Now they intended to trap Jesus: either He chooses to let her go, and they discredit His entire ministry; or He says stone her, He’s accused of lying about the mercy He preached, and His ministry is ruined. What’s worse is that the entire crowd is most likely siding with the pharisees!
“It’s the word of God! We must follow it!” exclaimed the pharisees. They were set in their religious laws and traditions. The worst part? In both circumstances, this woman dies. They were anxious to hear the answer, but Jesus gave none.
But when He had the answer He needed, He calmly, yet boldly replied, “He that is without sin cast the first stone.”
Sometimes the devil will pressure you to make a decision in a situation in which there are only a few choices—ones that are most likely wrong. In the end, deciding without listening to the Holy Spirit is acting brashly. Jesus put His trust in the Word that He heard from the Father, and the woman was saved as a result. Remember our definition? Trust is linked with boldness.
There is a reason He was called the Lion of Judah. Jesus didn’t follow the crowd, He followed His Father. Jesus didn’t have security in Himself, He wasn’t confident in His own ability, and He didn’t trust His own words. He trusted the Word of God; He was confident in God’s ability to act in His situation, and He knew his security was in God. He was bold enough to defy the status quo and extend the love of God, because He placed His security in the words of His Father.
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I challenge you to be bold as lions! Boldness in this world can seem hard because it’s so much easier to follow the crowd and the ways of the world. Remember that, as born again believers, we are not of this world. Boldness in our modern vocabulary isn’t viewed favorably, but, going back to our definition, if you don’t put your trust in God, and in yourself instead, that’s pride. So when you see an opportunity to extend the the love of God, you can trust Him to do it! Romans 1:16 says that we are unashamed of the Gospel of Christ. So extend boldness and give them Jesus!
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“Lord, today I thank You for the boldness I have because of You. I have confidence in Your ability to act in my life, I trust in Your Word and all it has for me, and I have total security in You. I will not flee or follow the crowd because of pressure from the ways of the world. I am not of this world. I am a child of God. I am as bold as a lion! In Jesus’ name, amen.”