Boldness

My father was a unique character with many loveable attributes that made him enjoyable to be around and easy to get along with. Once you got to know him, it was obvious that he was dependable, funny and a bit playfully cantankerous. There was one quirk that plagued him all through his life though, and, given the friendliness of his demeanor, it seemed slightly odd and misplaced – he shied away from contact with strangers! If there were unavoidable circumstances that brought him into the presence of people he didn’t know, there would be lots of “smiles” but also an uncomfortable awkwardness that seemed to make it hard to initiate conversation.

I remember one occasion as a child when we were traveling. We had pulled into an A&W drive-in for lunch. In those days you parked in a stall and ordered through an intercom resulting in the carhop bringing your food on a tray and everyone eating in the car. After we had worked out what we were going to order, dad reached out the window and pressed the “talk” button. When the attendant’s voice came over the speaker dad didn’t respond. Instead he looked over at mom on the other side of the car and nodded to her to place the order. Following some quick, but silent, give and take, mom had to “holler” our order across the car because dad would not talk over the intercom. It was just one of those odd things dad never tried to overcome or change in his personality – mom would do it!

Sometimes we who are part of the body of Christ exhibit a similar reluctance when it comes to “making contact” with the world around us. Because of an awkward fear we sometimes hesitate, or even avoid, initiating conversations or relationships with people outside the comfortable confines of our church family. Often even when church visitors (who may also be followers of Jesus) attend services in our congregation there can be that quiet hesitation to speak to them or engage them in conversation beyond the typical and safe, “Glad you are here.” There is even a greater challenge to try to create and carry through on an encounter with those who we know need to hear about Jesus, yet the only way they will is if we take the initiative.

Taking that initiative is exercising the boldness that the Holy Spirit brings into our lives as we let His urgency become our motivation. He empowers us to take those exhilarating steps of obedience!

How exciting to be His people,
Pastor David Vanderpool