So what attitudes reflect an “Acts 4 boldness in the spirit?” I’m not sure but here’s my best take.
We take time for our spouse and kids at the expense of our own praise.- We risk innovating on the edge versus seeking the safety of the middle.
- We are at peace when someone else gets the recognition we thought we deserved.
- We care for the widows and the orphans, and keep ourselves unspotted from the world.
- We reach out to those we fear and seek first to understand.
- We dream big and live large even after failing badly and losing the trust of those closest to us.
- We keep our head when others are losing theirs and blaming it on us.
- We run to the problem and own it, even if we’re only 30% to blame.
- We keep our heart with all diligence so we can freely give it to others.
- We know the hope of the Word and share it with kindness and enthusiasm.
Please leave me a comment below with what attitudes or actions you think reflect this boldness. I’ll then compile a top ten from everyone’s thoughts.
I guess for me it’s #6…because…
If we are taking our marching orders from Jesus the world will most likely see what we are doing as at the least “odd” and at the outside edge “complete crazyness”. To those who are believers and cannot see the direction we are traveling the issue is a little more personal; I believe that WE are passing and failing tests directly from God… “Joe says he is faithful…but will he continue to build an arc when the people have not experienced rain yet alone a flood…When Joe’s family who loves him are tired of the criticism will he stand firm?” The world will never understand and as a Christian I get that one, I don’t like it but I get it. Being able to live large and dream big risking hurt to those who love me…for me that says “God I know you have my back and I will live BOLDLY”… I pray that I will have the strength to act boldly.
# 2 is a close second…Christ did not preach from the safe spot in the middle, he was an on the edge preacher and I think it’s our job to find the leading edge.
Joe
I think all 10 are good examples of boldness in the spirit, but I think each person has a different take on each one. I can see in my life boldness has been shown in more than one of those 10, but the times when there is a chance of failure, humiliation, lost of trust, and/or confrontation…I think those are the times where the boldness in the spirit shines through. It is shone when we step ahead and try something, even while knowing the possible outcome. I can honestly say that I regret the times I’ve stepped back, but in the times that I stepped forward with full knowledge that I was stepping in faith, I have not regretted. Those are the moments when I know that the spirit was/is with me.
Wow, Ed! What a great list. You have pretty much covered it – risk, love, humility. The hard part is finding someone close to us to be an example of that boldness.
Maybe that’s one to add – invest in the people around you, that they may see your boldness and do likewise.
I agree,all 10 are spot-on, but I’m with Abbie about investing in others. #3 is a sore spot for me. Of course it stems from everything being about ME. If I made it about others, then I’d be focusing on the Savior’s mission rather than mine.
A great list! And Abbie’s addition of investing in others is a good add. I have read and re-read the list multiple times…remembering those times I have done one of the items right, but sadly more the times I haven’t. And if I were to add one more thing to that list I need to work on, it would be about reliquishing control(or could that be manipulation) and fully trusting God AND following His promptings in life’s situations. I;ll keep you posted on how I do on that one.
Take care Ed!
Joe,
I’m sorry for the delay in following up here. Unfortunately, I had a major heart issues this week. That’s a reasonable excuse, huh?
I like your thoughts and most of all your passion. But it does come down to the simply question you mentioned. Do we really trust He has our back? Do we really? And if so wouldn’t we be on the edge more than coddling each other in the middle?
Tough conversation…
Ed
Forest,
Thanks for the reminder that stepping out in faith will never leave us with regret. That’s a simple thought with major consequence!
Ed
Abbie,
Ah…the invest in others is a key issue. That is what Christ was about every day.
Good catch…thanks.
Ed
Barb,
I love your transparency. Wasn’t it John Hancock that said the virtue of humility was just too tough so he focused on others?
#3 had some raw emotion for me when I typed it as well. And as you mentioned it does come down to where we’ve put our identity and focus.
Thanks for the reminder to keep focused on Christ’s mission.
Ed
Lynn,
Thanks for your thoughts especially regarding this issue of control. My recent heart problem really smashed into that control issue I struggle with as well. How could that happen after all that work the last 25 years?
Driven people like us own it all way too much it seems. So how would you write that up in a simple phrase that could fit with the 10 above?
Ed