Boldness..

Sometimes I feel that life is filled with distractions. It just seems like everything that crosses my path every day is trying to steal my time with the Lord. A lot of the time, I’m the culprit as much as I am the victim. I woke up this morning wanting to watch a football game. I didn’t want to pray, read scripture, or worship. I just didn’t feel like it.
So when I grabbed my phone, I checked to see if anyone had called or messaged me over night, and found that someone had indeed texted me: “Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom. James 3:13. Learn from ourselves and other’s mistakes! Use them to move on to a better future. Be wise. Much love and respect…”
I then opened my Bible app to read the scripture for today, “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” Philippians 4:8
I thanked God for His wonderful goodness. Today, Jews all over the world are celebrating the Day of Atonement, the day where their sins are forgiven. In the Old Testament Torah, the rule is “eye for eye” and “soul for soul”. The only thing that can pay redemption (p’dion, פדיון ) for the soul of a sinner is the soul of a perfectly righteous man. Since they don’t believe in Jesus, they don’t have anyone to pay for all of their sins. So today on the streets of Jerusalem you will find venders selling “atonement” to people. The people go to these venders and pay a small fee (an offering) and the vender (a Jewish, modern day Pharisee) will hold up an empty envelope over their head and wave it ceremonially for their sins to be forgiven for the past year.
Zechariah saw this practice being done in his day and wrote, “pour out the spirit of grace and supplication upon the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and they will look upon Me whom they have pierced” – Zechariah 12:10.  
Oh that the world would truly see Jesus! That is precisely why it is up to us to live as Jesus did, love as Jesus loved, walk as Jesus walked, and to imitate God, to be His ambassador. We must live boldly. Our Faith must be put on display! Not our politics, not our feelings, not our desires… Jesus. He is waiting. The world is waiting. All of creation is waiting for you to boldly and faithfully put Jesus on display today. Not to be a “nice and good Christian”, but to be the real deal.
He has chosen to reveal Himself through you. You don’t need to get all cleaned up and pure before you go out… Jesus has already done that. He has made you Holy, without blemish, and above reproach. You are His chosen and dearly loved heir. Just boldly walk in faith today. Be a blessing. Set captives free. With Boldness…

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