February 14, 2008 - Acts 4:29

“’Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness.’” Acts 4:29.
In response to the religious authorities’ threats and punishments, the early followers of Jesus asked God to “enable (them) to speak (God’s) word with great boldness.” Peter and John had been arrested, held in prison over night, and tried before the authorities for honoring the name of Jesus, in whom they were dedicated followers. Now, as these believers gathered together, they must have discussed the options before them. Do they “obey” their authorities and stay silent in public concerning Jesus, or do they speak out? Knowing that they could be arrested and treated cruelly must have made their discussion interesting. Their decision was to pray to the Lord for boldness to speak out.
I must admit that, if I am speaking to someone about my faith in Jesus and they react to me in a threatening fashion, my reaction would probably be to back up, to back off, or to back down. Or, quite the opposite, an angry reaction might well up inside of me, and I might lash out, which would probably mean that a fight would ensue. If I was threatened with potential time in jail because of the message of Jesus, as these early followers were, I would certainly take some time to think through my options and my response. It would not be my first response to pray for “great boldness,” as these early followers of Jesus prayed. It is my hope that, if in a similar situation, I would process this with the people that know me and with whom I know, and that we would come to a similar conclusion as these early believers.
Questions to consider: Have you ever been told or threatened to not share the message of Jesus? If so, what did you do and what was your experience? If not, how do you think that you would respond?
Prayer: Father, like these early followers of Jesus, please give us boldness, if and when we are threatened, to tell the story of Your Son, Jesus, and of Your rescue mission for all of creation. Amen.