TODAY’S MEDITATION – Are you bold enough to serve the Lord and His Kingdom? (2 Timothy 1:7)

Today, let’s look into the boldness and courage that come from the Lord. Many people are bold and brave, but are you bold and brave enough for the Lord? My brother, my sister, every gift the Lord gives us is to serve Him, not to disserve Him or disgrace the kingdom. Cemeteries are filled with bones of people who never used what the Lord had put in them or allowed the Lord to do what He intended to do with them and through them to advance the work of God. But, let’s acknowledge that the breath of life that we enjoy today should be a good reason for us to show how much we love Jesus and appreciate every gift He gives us daily.

Let’s look at two examples of the Bible to understand what the Bible says on today’s verse: “For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline” (2 Timothy 1:7). In other words, God has given us boldness, which here is defined as giving us power, love and self-disciple or sound mind. Now, when someone says they are bold for the Lord, but all their attitude shows selfishness, lack of love and lack of self-discipline… then they are more coward than bold in the sight of the Lord. Let’s go into the Word to illustrate this: “Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before” (Daniel 6:10). Yes, my friend, this is boldness and courage: Daniel knew that the decree was to forbid people to pray… he didn’t hide in a closet to try to keep his prayers from being heard by people; he actually wanted everyone to know he was praying, so he left the windows open towards the city of Jerusalem, not in the back garden, as usual and began to talk to God. Why? Because of His commitment to God, the Lord had given him holy boldness. Remember, the boldness of the Lord gives power, love and self-discipline, so Daniel was so much filled with that, that even when thrown in the den among lions the lions were helpless to harm him (Daniel 6:19–23).

Let’s look at another example of boldness: because of the great miracle God performed through them, Peter and John were in all kinds of trouble with the authorities and their lives were threatened. Yet, as soon as they were released from prison, all they found to do was going forth praising the Lord, praying to God, and asking Him for more miracles: “Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. Stretch out your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus” (Acts 4:29-30). My friend, God does not give us boldness to fight our brothers and sisters in Christ, to slander one another, to disserve the Kingdom… all those things that are not productive for the kingdom but the enemy. Therefore, if your boldness does not lead you to stand up for what is right and good before God, then you are nothing but a very good agent of the devil. My friend, never forget that everything that does not honour, respect or glorify God makes Him angry Stay blessed in Jesus’ name.