“Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John . . . they recognized that they had been with Jesus.”
“Free and fearless confidence, cheerful courage, boldness, assurance.”
–definition of parrēsia, the Greek word translated three times as “boldness” in Acts 4 in the KJV
Freed from fear by the Father
There are few hindrances in our walk with Jesus that debilitate us more than fear. This is why Scripture teaches us that perfect love “casts out fear” (1 John 4:18). The source of that perfect love is the perfectly lovely one, Jesus the Christ. The gift of the Spirit, by the Father and Son, is no less than a gift of courage. God’s people “have not received a spirit of bondage again to fear; you have received a spirit of adoption where we cry out ‘Abba, Father’” (Rom. 8:15).
This is true of all saints. But men in particular are called to model this life of trusting faith in the living God. They are to lead, love, serve, sacrifice, suffer, and worship with an iron rod of Spirit-inspired confidence driven down their spine. In fact, the Apostle Paul tells men, “Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong” (1 Cor. 16:13, emphasis added). Why? Because “God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love and self-discipline” (2 Tim. 1:7, NLT). His salvation wins our standing before God as well as our walk with God.
So great is this salvation that the writer of Hebrews says, my emphasis:
“For [God] himself has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you.’ So we may boldly say: ‘The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?’” (Heb. 13:5–6, NKJV)
It should not be a shock that Jesus’ favorite refrain when approaching weak and trembling disciples is “Fear not!” He knows our fears, he experienced their soul-sucking temptations, and kept his face fixed upon the immovable reality of his Father’s character and his very own identity as God’s Son.
When cowardice is pride
I think cowardice is an all-too-common (albeit socially acceptable) sinful disposition for the people of God. We don’t fight cowardice with the same fortitude we do other sins, because we don’t see it as harmful to others or a mark of self-sufficiency and pride. Unfortunately, cowardice is both self-sufficient and prideful. Cowardice denies God his glory, and so distorts and obscures our witness and personally harms us, as does any lie from Satan.
I want us to fight this fight of faith with every resource the gospel offers us. The gospel is the very power of God; the Holy Spirit yearns to make it more than a concept in each of our lives so the gospel of Jesus Christ might reign as a communal reality. Cowardice, timidity, and fear of man are sure signs that we are trusting our own abilities and resources rather than embracing and receiving what God offers for free. We’ll work in our own strength, only to find ourselves discouraged and frustrated, while God offers us his very presence and power to all those daring enough to believe him at his word.
Are you willing to risk trusting God’s word to experience God’s work in your life? May all our hearts say, “Yes!” to such a gracious invitation.
To boldly go to all people
I know it’s sunny, but the Son’s light is brighter beyond compare. I know it’s comfortable, but your soul needs a greater comforter. I know there are things to do, but nothing is more important than meeting with your God and allowing him to grow you into the image of his very Son.
Be courageous and risk calling a friend, neighbor, or relative and ask them to get together sometime or join you at church this weekend. Let God do what he loves to do: take the foolish and weak things of the world and bless them with his very wisdom and power.
“Consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, so that, as it is written, ‘Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.’” (1 Cor. 1:26–31)
