Boldness in Faith

Reflection

Missionaries have a hard and beautiful calling. They go into foreign lands, leaving behind the comforts of home, facing hostility and dangers for the sake of their faith. But like the Apostle Paul, one may not have to travel far to experience the cost of following Jesus. There are many believers in their own homeland who suffer persecution for their faith, even from those closest to them, family, friends, neighbors. They face ridicule, rejection, and even threats because of their commitment to Christ.

I think back to when Paul, then known as Saul, was one of those persecutors. He was zealous in his faith, but he used that zeal to harm the church, until he had a radical encounter with the risen Lord Jesus. That moment of transformation changed everything. Now, Paul was the one who was willing to suffer for the sake of Christ, ready to endure persecution, imprisonment, and even death.

For most of us, we may not face physical imprisonment or death for our faith, but the challenge remains. Maybe it’s the boldness to live out your faith among family and friends who don’t understand or even oppose you. Maybe it’s standing firm in your beliefs at work, school, or in your community. Are we, like Paul, ready to boldly live for Christ regardless of the cost?

Reading this verse makes me reflect on my own willingness to follow God’s call. Sometimes, we may feel like following God’s will is a simple matter of obedience, but what happens when the road ahead looks hard, or when the sacrifices seem too great? It’s easy to say we are ready to follow Jesus when things are easy, but what about when it costs us something, our time, our comfort, or even our security?

Paul’s example challenges me to ask myself: Am I truly ready to follow God no matter what the cost? Am I willing to stand firm in my faith even when it’s difficult or unpopular? We are all called to live with courage and conviction in our walk with Christ, trusting that He will give us the strength we need to endure.