On this episode:
This episode discusses the importance of boldness in the Christian life and how we can overcome shyness.
Episode Transcript
Opening
Now is the time to be bold. Let’s talk about that on today’s episode.
You’re listening to Your Faith At Work with Dr. Ryan S. Howard, a podcast to inspire and equip you to partner with God in your daily work. Visit your YourFaithAtWork.org to learn more and download your free copy of 21 Days to a New Workplace You.
Episode
God always commands His people to be bold for Him and for His cause. All throughout the Bible and all throughout history of Christianity, people have been bold and now is the time for us to be bold.
Did you know that there are more people turning to Christ today for their salvation and eternal life than any other time in history? And this is happening at a time when there is more persecution for Christians than in the last 2000 years.
Maybe not in America, but in many countries around the world where Christianity is growing exponentially. People are being saved, giving their lives to Christ in places that you would not expect. In Israel, in China, and in many Arab countries. In all of these places, people are turning to Christ. This obviously is not in the media. That’s not where we look to see what’s happening with the Gospel and where it’s growing. Sometimes it’s in there, but we also can’t look to the leadership of a nation particularly to see what’s going on with Christianity in that nation.
So we have no reason to not be bold in living out our faith today. People are being put in jail. People are being taken away from their families. People are being killed for their faith in Jesus Christ, and they’re walking in boldness and living it out every day. So there’s no reason we shouldn’t be able to do that in our work, especially now.
Reasons for No Boldness
What are some reasons that we wouldn’t want to be bold? Well, the first that comes to mind is perhaps there’s some compromise in our life, or something that we handle in a way that we’re a little shy to share about Christ. Because maybe we’re not representing him that well. Well then I would encourage you to deal with that.
If that’s the case, just get rid of it today. Today’s the day, tomorrow is the favorite day of the enemy. If it’s always tomorrow, it never comes. So we don’t want to wait till then. Deal with it right now.
The second one is maybe just a lack of familiarity. We walk in confidence with things that we’re familiar with. You get to know your job after some time there, then you’re more familiar. You’re more confident with it. And so I wanna just say that, if you’re not familiar and you’re not confident with maybe your knowledge of the scriptures or Christianity or doctrines, whatever it is, then just get familiar. Step out and God will show you in the right time what you need and maybe something’s coming to your mind right now that’s sort of a gap.
Well just take some steps to start moving forward with it and walk by faith with what you already know and God, when He sees that He can trust you with that, you’re going to get more and more and more and these opportunities will come up. So just take a step and get out there.
A third reason we would not be bold is maybe there’s social consequences. Perhaps looking bad or being made fun of or being worried about being cast out of a group or something like that. Well, our work and our life are not about us and are about Christ. We serve Him. If we really know Christ, we’ve given our life to Him. It’s about Him and what He wants to do.
Boldness Makes a Difference
This brings to mind a story of a friend of mine who was in the military. There was a group of people at this table and they asked him about something and he took a stand for Christ. Everybody kind of laughed and were saying, “whatever, get out of here.” And he just said, “okay, yep, see ya later, see ya around, I’m living for Christ now and that’s what I’m about.”
He didn’t let it phase him and over the next year, everyone at that table had come to him for something, one thing or another. Personal issues, something going on, questions about things that came up. Well, they knew they could trust him. So they came to him and he was able to help them out. And many of them came to know Christ through that.
If he hadn’t taken that original stand and been willing to put himself out there, none of that would’ve happened.
Your Boldness
So where do you need to be more bold today with your faith in Christ? Something in your work? Someone you need to talk to? Someone you need to pray with? Some issue you need to take a stand on? Maybe a public policy is something you want to get engaged with. Whatever’s on your heart, take a step now. Trust God and walk by faith. God is faithful and He will not let your boldness go to waste.
Closing
Thanks for listening to Your Faith At Work with Dr. Ryan S. Howard, if you enjoyed this podcast, we’d love for you to subscribe, share, and leave us a review. Be sure to visit your YourFaithAtWork.org to download your free copy of 21 Days to a New Workplace You. And remember, God wants to partner with you in your work every day.
