2 Corinthians 3:12 Therefore, since we have such a hope, we are very bold.

Every time I run into this verse it strikes me that many Christians must not have a firm hold on the hope that is theirs in Christ Jesus, because they aren’t bold! There are of course differences in personality, but I have seen Christians who were on the mousy side who were bold witnesses, and I have seen far more who otherwise were outgoing who totally froze up when it came to talking about Christ and faith. It is important that our faith be more than just information; we need an active relationship with our living Lord. When we encounter Him regularly in prayer, worship, and reading the Word, then we will have the assurance that it only gets better, and our hope will be unshakable. However “Sunday Christians” aren’t going to have anything more than dry theory to give them hope. One of the biggest differences between real Christianity and any other religion, even some that claim to be Christian, is the matter of active fellowship with our Savior. Most religions don’t even have a “savior figure” in their teaching, much less any hint that active fellowship with Deity is even possible. If you start comparing genuine Christian faith with anything else, it quickly becomes obvious that you’re looking at apples and oranges; they’re completely different. Externals can be copied, just as the recent birth of an “atheist church” movement in Britain, where people who claim no faith gather regularly for the sake of the fellowship with one another. Sadly, some churches aren’t much different, which is probably what gave them the idea. Fellowship with other believers is important, but fellowship with God is absolutely central. It is when we have that, that we are bold in sharing the hope that is in us.

Well, that’s certainly a clear exposition! I know that I desire an ever-deepening, ever-increasing fellowship with God my Father and Christ Jesus my Lord through the Holy Spirit, and I know that when that fellowship is operative, I have absolutely no hesitation to share the good news of salvation. However, when my focus is on people and how I think they might react to me, then suddenly my boldness goes out the window! It’s really a matter of priorities. Wanting people to like me isn’t bad, but I need to be focused first on Christ. When my heart is tuned to Him, boldness is never an issue.

Father, thank You for this very clear exposition of how our lives should be as witnesses of Jesus Christ. Help me communicate it to the believers without coming across as lecturing them or talking down to them. I pray that each one would have such a taste of You that they would be absolutely addicted, pressing in for more and more, so that we may all be transformed into the likeness of Christ Jesus our Lord, even as it says in verse 18, for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!