What is the relationship between boldness and consistency? This devotion looks at how we can become more consistent by becoming bolder.
Nuggets
- Boldness is a virtue that is equated with courage.
- Being righteous — being upright — leaves no room for fear.
- We have access to God and can boldly approach Him through our prayers.
- We can boldly approach God because Jesus paid the price for our sins.
- We have to boldly live for Jesus until He returns for us.
Devotions in the Consistency Needed for Spiritual Growth series
Our consistency can be dependent on a variety of factors. Our boldness is one of them. Tied into that is our level of confidence. Let’s look at the relationship between boldness and consistency.
Let's Put It into Context
We are getting at consistency through diligence. Diligence talks about being persistent. The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines diligence as being a “steady, earnest, and energetic effort.”
The Holman Bible Dictionary gives two definitions of boldness. The first “describes the courageous manner of those who preach the Gospel (Acts 2:29; Acts 4:13, Acts 4:13,4:31; Acts 9:27-29; Acts 13:46; Acts 14:3; Acts 18:26; Acts 19:8; Acts 26:26; Acts 28:31; see 1 Thessalonians 2:2; Philippians 1:20).” Most of us don’t think we are the preacher-types.
We generally are about for the second definition. It “describes the confidence with which Christians can now approach God because of the redeeming work of Christ (2 Corinthians 3:4-6, 2 Corinthians 3:12; Hebrews 10:19; 1 John 2:28; 1 John 4:17).”
Lion-Hearted
“The wicked flee when no one is pursuing them, but the righteous are as bold as a lion” (Prov. 28: 1 CSB)
Boldness is a virtue that is equated with courage. Because of that, sometimes those of us who lack boldness are shamed.
Dowling gave disciples a very good reminder. He wrote, “it is not for Christian men to judge of timidity as the world judges. There is much that the world accounts cowardly which we regard as noble and magnanimous.”
Ooo, baby. Don’t we do that? We bite on ourselves because the world sees us as mice.
They don’t get to judge us. God does.
God made us in His image (Gen. 1: 26-27). He made us exactly the way He wanted us. That is true if our experiences make us who we are meant to be. “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope” (Jer. 29: 11 ESV).
To be like God, we are to be righteous. Righteousness is the result of a solid relationship with God built by a sincere life of obedience to God’s laws and commandments.
Being like God makes us “… as bold as a lion” (Prov. 28: 1 CSB). Being righteous — being upright — leaves no room for fear.
Why can we be bold? We can’t go wrong when we are trusting God. We are not deceitful.
Timidity makes us fear. Boldness because of righteousness brings peace.
Boldness is needed to foster obedience. I mean, when Satan is flinging stuff at us right and left, doesn’t boldness play a big part in choosing to follow God’s laws and commandments?
We know that God is going to ask us to do the hard things. We have talked about His tests not being easy.
Bold Access
“in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in him” (Eph. 3:12 ESV)
We have access to God. We can call on Him any time.
We can call on God to worship Him and praise Him.
Why do we have this boldness? “… confidence through our faith in him” (Eph. 3:12 ESV).
Okay, wait a second. That sounds familiar. “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see” (Heb. 11: 1 NIV).
We can boldly come to God through our prayers.
Doesn’t that access give us boldness when we are going through a season of trials? We have access to the Creator of the universe. We can run to ur Heavenly Father. We can tap into the power that raised Jesus from the dead.
What support do we need besides God?
We are told we need to humbly approach God. Does that knock out boldly approaching Him?
No. Remember, we said humility is “a personal quality in which an individual shows dependence on God and respect for other persons” (Holman Bible Dictionary). We can boldly step right up because we are showing our dependence on God.
God doesn’t expect us to be mice. We’re supposed to be lion-hearted.
Spurgeon is the one who equated going boldly to the throne of God with consistency — and he said Paul gave the reason. “… There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most” (Heb. 4: 16 NLT).
Because God awaits to give us mercy and grace, we can approach Him unreservedly. We can come to Him with anything — large or small. We don’t have have to Pray in the King James Version. We can know that we will be heard.
Atherton did give us a couple of thou-shalt-not-approach ways.
Irreverently
Presumptuously
Begrudgingly
Standoffishly
Grumpily
With a closed heart and mind
Unconfidently
Sporadically
Boldly by the Blood
“Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have boldness to enter the sanctuary through the blood of Jesus” (Heb. 10: 19 CSB)
We can boldly approach God because Jesus paid the price for our sins. We can only approach Him through Jesus. “Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (Jn. 14: 6 NIV).
Burns said that we should enter God’s presence “with a true heart” and “in full assurance of faith.” We can enter because the price for restitution of our sins has already been paid.
Boldly Abiding in Him
“And now, little children, abide in Him, that when He appears, we may have confidence and not be ashamed before Him at His coming” (I John 2: 28 NKJV)
We talked in What Is Diligence? about abiding in God’s love. We said we
- Take up residence.
- Hang in there.
- Hunker down and get through it without complaining.
- Show our eagerness for His plans for our lives.
What John is saying in this verse is that we have to boldly live for Jesus until He returns for us. It is our duty to be consistently portraying His character in the world.
Hawes argues that abiding in Christ “implies that he is already in Him; if any man be in Christ he is a new creature. And surely in the great day of the Lord’s coming we shall need something to rest upon as a ground of confidence firmer and more abiding than anything the world can afford us.”
Making the Connections
I think part of it is a chicken and the egg thing. Boldness grows as we become more consistent. But then again, as we grow bolder, we gain confidence and become more consistent.
Case in point – witnessing.
We begin witnessing.
After a couple of times, we find we can do it, so our boldness grows.
As our boldness grows, we increase our witnessing efforts and become more consistent.
Moral of the story – we have to be faithful and do what God is calling us to do.
We can be timid. Part of the problem is we judge ourselves — and ooo, baby, can we be our worst critic!
We see ourselves as broken. We see our flaws and sins. We see where we fall short — and don’t think that will ever change.
We don’t see ourselves as God does — perfected.
Making the Connections to Self-Discipline
We can become bolder. When God continues to show us His love for us, as we continue to commune with Him, our boldness should grow.
By learning to abide in Him to an even greater extent should boost our confidence and increase our boldness.
By seeing ourselves as perfected, we know what areas need our work.
How Do We Apply This?
Discipleship is a hands-on endeavor. We have to actively seek God.
Searching for and Seeking God
Hearing His Word (Rom. 10: 17).
Reading His Word (Rev. 1: 3).
Praying to Him (Heb. 4: 16).
Studying His Word (Ac. 17: 11).
Meditating on His Word (Ps. 1: 1-2).
Memorizing His Word (Ps. 119: 11).
As our relationship grows, so should our boldness. Yes, it will take practice, but God’s got this.
Father God. We thank You that You allow us access to You. You love us and want to have communion with us. You want us to boldly proclaim Your gospel and make disciples to expand Your kingdom. Help us to boldly step out in our faith of You. Amen.
If you have not admitted that your relationship is not right with God,
have not asked Jesus to be your Lord and Savior,
and have not confessed your sins,
please read through the Plan of Salvation and prayerfully consider what God is asking you to do.
Related Links
Related Links
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The Disciple’s Job Description
Complete Job Description
Individual Description
Job Duty #1
Be a Living Sacrifice (Romans 12: 1-2)
Job Duty #2
Work Out Our Salvation (Philippians 2: 12)
Job Duty #3
Bring Him Glory (Matthew 5: 16)
Job Duty #4
Proclaim the Gospel (Mark 16: 15)
Job Duty #5
Love People (John 15: 12)
Job Duty #6
Make Disciples (Matthew 28: 19-20)
Job Duty #7
Other Duties as Assigned
(Ecclesiastes 3: 1)
It Was Enough
Vocalist: Elaine Guthals
Keyboard: Chris Vieth
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