Be As Bold As A Lion

The wicked flee though no one pursues, but the righteous are as bold as a lion. Proverbs 28:1 

  

  I have been thinking about that verse, “the righteous are as bold as a lion”, and how we fulfill it. I certainly do not always feel as bold as a lion. What makes us righteous? It is a gift that is applied to us through the righteousness of Jesus Christ. Because He was righteous, His righteousness is applied to us as a gift when we receive salvation. 

  Likewise, I think when we are as bold as a lion it is because of Jesus, and not a natural impulse or ability. We know that we can cast our care upon Him: 

  

Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken. Psalm 55:2 

  

  We can also give Jesus our fear and anxiety: 

  

Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. 1 Peter 5:7 

  

  Once we do those things we really have no reason for fear and every reason to be bold. When we consider that Jesus is within us by His Holy Spirit, believers can be courageous and bold. It is not based upon feelings or emotional responses. It is built upon the fact of Jesus being our righteousness and we being His representatives on earth. Boldness should be part of our character because of our Lord and our relationship with Him. 

  Boldness is a choice. It is a step of faith. It comes because we trust our Lord when we step outside of our comfort zone.  

  I know is hard to think about being bold when we are ill, afflicted, and feel so weak. It may be the very last thing on our mind when we can barely leave our sick bed. But I think we need boldness the most when we are at our weakest. The devil often attacks us when we are the most vulnerable. It is at such times we must call upon the Lord to be bold within us, for the Spirit to rise up to meet the challenge or temptation the enemy throws at us. 

  Look for opportunities to be bold in Jesus’ name. And when you are weak and under attack by the enemy call upon the Lord to give you strength, to make you as bold as a lion to overcome whatever the enemy brings your way. 

  Prayer: Dear Lord, because You live in us we can be bold and courageous. Because you are our Lord we can be as bold as a lion. Thank You! Amen.