31 Day Writings

Characteristic Three of a Believer: Bold

It’s Saturday and I’m on call. I’m the nursing supervisor for a home health agency that provides certified nursing assistants to help the elderly in their homes. As a supervisor, my role to ensure the safety of not only the employee but the patient. Before the patient would begin service, I would meet and find the needs of the client. These services were private pay as Medicare doesn’t pay for the daily bath, dressing, or preparing a meal for a senior citizen or cleaning of the home. On this particular day, the answering service calls and I are dealing with a distraught, upset client. She’s whispering, and I think I hear, “She’s stealing from me!” Now I’m usually a pretty good problem solver. It was nothing to troubleshoot calls to include removing a foley catheter at 3:00 in the morning over the telephone but how does one troubleshoot this situation. I had to be bold and go to the home of the client.

Bold is the third characteristic of a born-again Christian. Bold’s defined as a person showing an ability to take risks; confident and courageous. When I think of bold in biblical terms, beloved, we have so many examples. David and Goliath, Daniel in the lion’s den. But I’m challenged by Abraham and his faithful bold walk with the Lord. I would like to focus on a later time in his life after Issac has been born.

Abraham after he father’s the promised child from Sarah, he hears the Lord asking him to sacrifice his son to prove his love and devotion to God. We read in Genesis 22:1-2, “Now it came to pass after these things that God tested Abraham, and said to him, “Abraham!” And he said, ‘Here I am.” Then He said, “Take now your son, your only son Issac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.” Abraham boldly prepares for this mission to follow God. Do you boldly follow God or do you procrastinate? There’s absolutely no procrastination. We read in the scripture the very next morning, the journey began and on the third day, Abraham saw the place where he’s to sacrifice his son. Preparation and worship occur, Abraham, ask the men who accompanied him to stay with the donkeys while they worship the Lord. It is not covered in Genesis 22:5 what Abraham asked God but I dare to say it was a bold prayerful worship time.

“He said to his servants, “Stay here with the donkey while I and the boy go over there. We will worship and then we will come back to you.” Genesis 22:5

Beloved, what bold thing is the Lord asking you to do? How often do you worship the Lord? What does your prayer life look like?

David Jeremiah states in the Jeremiah Study Bible, “Abraham by stating we will worship and we will come back that they would return. That somehow God would bring his son back to life after offering him for no one had ever seen a resurrection. Nevertheless, he trusted God to do the impossible. Maybe because he had already saw the impossible with Issac’s birth.”

Genesis 22:7-8, “But Issac spoke to Abraham, his father and said, “My father!” and he said, “Here I am, my son.” Then he said, “Look, the fire, and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?” And Abraham said, “My Son, God will provide for Himself the lamb for a burnt offering.”

Beloved, Abraham boldly offered his son. I don’t know about you but as a mother, my sons are my life. I trust God with everything but do I? God questioned Abraham’s love. Is he questioning yours? What are your loyalties? Where are you spending your time? Do you love yourself as much as He loves you? Boldly, Abraham hears the angel, Genesis 22:11-12. Don’t harm Issac, there is a ram in the thicket for you to boldly sacrifice. Abraham names the place, The-Lord-Will-Provide. Because Abraham did not withhold his son and boldly offered him in verses 15-18 he receives the blessings of the Lord.

That morning I drove to San Diego and I boldly confronted the employee, here I am 5’2 shaking my finger at a 5’8 woman. I had to call the police and replace the employee. I was fortunate that the patient and I were safe. For the few sad stories in home health, I have just as many wonderful caregiver stories. I only share this one to share how bold I was to come to the aid of our client that morning.

Beloved, the third characteristic of a born-again believer’s boldness. What do you need to do to add this to your life?

Father God, I boldly come to your throne of grace and I pray that as believers we boldly share the good news. That daily we seek to be salt and light to those around us. I pray for those that need to boldly put you first and to sacrifice what might be standing in the way of sharing your love with others. Where would we be if Abraham had not followed you by sacrificing his son? Thank you, Lord, for sacrificing your son.

I am still giving away three “Come With Me Devotions” by Suzie Eller by leaving a comment here on my blog of how Jesus is working in your life.


This post is part of a 31 day series on the Characteristics of a Believer. I am so glad that you are here. To read all of the posts in this series, click here.

 

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17 Comments

  • Reply
    sue
    October 4, 2017 at 11:08 am

    Jesus is working in my life (still!) on calling on me again to speak these next few months and I wish I would just chillax and not think about anything but HIm and His truth and love. But I’m boldly going forward (do I have a choice? nope. not at this point.) Still. I wish to think only of Him and His love for me and for those under my teaching. Still. I wish I could stay home and read a novel. . . (:

    • Reply
      Diana
      October 6, 2017 at 8:13 am

      Dear Sue, Guess what you are a winner of Suzi Eller’s devotional Come With Me. Thank you so much sharing what Jesus is doing in your life. Blessings my friend. Diana

  • Reply
    Barbie
    October 4, 2017 at 11:16 am

    Love this post. I don’t see myself as bold, but I’ve had to have some bold faith in the midst of hardship. Blessings!

  • Reply
    Tara
    October 4, 2017 at 1:28 pm

    This was fun to read today since our Confirmation lesson tonight is on Sarah and Abraham! Coincidence? I think not! 🙂

    • Reply
      Diana
      October 6, 2017 at 8:11 am

      Dear Tara, I love when God does things like this, you are such a blessing to me. I am sending you a copy of Suzi’s Come with Me Devo will need your address. Blessings my Friends. Diana

  • Reply
    Susan Shipe
    October 4, 2017 at 2:09 pm

    Now wait a minute, you are working again? Am I confused?

    • Reply
      Diana
      October 6, 2017 at 8:08 am

      Dear Susan, You are confused. I guess I should have said when I was a nursing supervisor. LOL. Guess what dear one. You scored, you are a winner my friend of Suzi’s book. I will contact you for your address. Blessings Diana

  • Reply
    Tricia
    October 4, 2017 at 2:27 pm

    I love this post about boldness!! It’s honestly been a #SacredEcho lately, as God keeps bringing this topic to my attention more and more often. I always know to pay attention when that happens. I am not sure what He means to teach me regarding boldness, except to just BE it, but I’m eager to lean into Him more and seek to hear His Voice about this!! Thank you for confirming this in my own walk.

    Jesus is working in my life lately by spurring my husband to have a desire to want to read the Word. He’s been a Christian for a long while (since childhood), but life has been such a struggle for us with various health isssus and financial issues for around 3-5 years now, that it’s really caused a strain in his personal faith. I’ve been praying for him and his own relationship with the Lord, and praying for him as the spiritual leader in our home (both from the perspective as a wife that needs him to be this and as a mother that yearns for our children to see this in their home). Prayers appreciated for him, and for all of us. Again, your blog reminding me of Jehovah Jireh was SO relevant to me today!! Thank you, dear sister!! God bless!!

    • Reply
      Diana
      October 6, 2017 at 8:04 am

      Dear Tricia, Thank you so much for responding and letting me know how Jesus is working in your life. I love your #SacredEcho. You are the winner of Suzi Eller’s devotional and I think you and your husband will enjoy it so much. I have been reading it to my husband before bedtime since I received the devotional this last weekend. I will contact you and get your address. Blessings Diana

  • Reply
    Mary Geisen
    October 4, 2017 at 4:14 pm

    Thank you for your call to boldness. This is an area that God has been working on in me especially for the last several years. I know so much more about who I am in Christ.

    Jesus will never stop callling me. I have been extremely blessed since I’ve retired. I just moved a few weeks ago because God promised me new beginnings. I can’t wait to see what He does next.

    • Reply
      Diana
      October 6, 2017 at 7:53 am

      Dear Mary, Thank You so much for sharing how Jesus is working in your life. I am loving retirement, also. I wanted to share that you are a winner of one of the Come with Me Devotionals. Blessings Diana

  • Reply
    Debbie Putman
    October 6, 2017 at 3:53 pm

    Being bold can be hard for the introvert in me, but I know God calls us to boldness. He also wants me to rely completely on Him and being bold definitely requires complete dependence. I retired in June and moved to a new state. I feel God calling me to be bold in my new neighborhood and step out to neighbors offering Christ to them in a variety of bold ways.

    • Reply
      Diana
      October 8, 2017 at 5:37 pm

      Dear Debbie, I have moved to a new state and retired also, maybe we can do it together. Blessings Diana

  • Reply
    Carol Sickmeier
    October 6, 2017 at 8:34 pm

    God has been working in my life with this very topic (boldness). He has been reinforcing that if I will follow in obedience, my interbeing will be strengthened. I will walk taller in confidence that I am following him with my heart and my actions. Thank you for your post.

    • Reply
      Diana
      October 8, 2017 at 5:39 pm

      Dear Carol, Thank you for letting me know that God is working in your life in this area. I will pray that as you walk taller in confidence that you will follow him. I wrote about following him today. Blessings Diana

  • Reply
    Crissy Johnson
    August 7, 2018 at 5:33 pm

    Oh! This hit home! In all honesty, I am not bold in most areas of my life. I can share His Word, my faith, and even the truth of issues I have in my life boldly, most times. But when it comes to stepping out of my house, being in crowds of people, or speaking in front of crowds – I am controlled by fear. Fear is a big issue for me and has held me back from many things. Reading this reminds me of how God it is control and that in Him I can be bold and hand over that fear. Thank you for sharing this!

    • Reply
      Diana
      August 11, 2018 at 8:45 am

      Dear Crissy, I have let fear rule my life at times. We, however, are more than conquerors through Christ who loves us. Blessings Diana

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