Remember the story of the Sunday School teacher who witnessed to a Boston shoe clerk, Dwight L. Moody? Listen further to an account of that witness: “Kimball found Moody working in the stockroom, wrapping and shelving shoes. Kimball said he spoke with ‘limping words.’ He later said, ‘I never remember just what I did say: something about Christ and His love; that was all.’ He admitted it was a ‘weak appeal.’” (p. 70). 

 The fire that was kindled in the heart of D.L. Moody by a modest Sunday School teacher would kindle a fire of love and hope in the hearts of thousands. 

When I consider the bold acts and witnesses of the early Church, I do not see eloquent men and women. Paul admitted as much: “When I came to you, brothers, I did not come with eloquence or superior wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God. For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. I came to you in weakness and fear, and with much trembling. My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, so that your faith might not rest on men’s wisdom, but on God’s power”( 1 Corinthians 2:1-5). 

I felt with Margaret what Paul felt with the Corinthians. Have you experienced that too? Boldness in those moments is not defined by what we say. It is the willingness to be God’s vessels, trusting that His Spirit will reveal itself. This is exactly what Jesus asked the disciples to have confidence in. As He was preparing to leave them, they were terrified. In response He said, 

“Whenever you are arrested and brought to trial, do not worry beforehand about what to say. Just say whatever is given you at the time, for it is not you speaking, but the Holy Spirit” (Mark 13:11). 

 We may stumble over the words, but the power of God will not. Tell it boldly. Bold in the power of God. Who in your life have you been burdened over as to where they stand with Jesus? Tell it boldly! Not bold with words necessarily, but bold in the confidence that the Spirit will give you the words to say and will then work with those words long after you have finished. Tell it boldly in the confidence that what you are sharing with them is lifegiving, breathing with hope. 

My prayer is that you will hear in response, “I believe that too.
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Helping people live life with Jesus everyday,

Rev. Dr. Brent L Parrish