Daily Devotions

Paul writing to the Philippians  reveals how boldness is contagious. “When we are bold for Christ, enduring hardships for our faith, others are provoked to do the same.” (Philippians 1:14).

A missionary legend is told that Boniface of Crediton, an 8th century Christian missionary, who once traveled to a German shrine hidden in the sacred forest of Thor, the god of thunder. When he realised that the native folk were not going to willingly relinquish their native spirits, Boniface took his axe to a huge oak that served as the holy altar of their worship. With one blow of Boniface’s powerful axe, God felled the mammoth oak with the breath of a mighty wind. The pagan barbarians were awestruck and converted to this new God who was mightier than their old gods. Boniface, not weak in conscience when it came to pagan things, then took the wood and built a church.

In one of Aesop’s Fables we come across a Fox who had never yet seen a Lion. Whilst walking through the forest the fox fell in with the lion for the first time. The fox was so frightened that he that he  nearly died of fear. Meeting the lion for the second time, the fox was still much alarmed, but not to the same extent as at first. On seeing him the third time, he so increased in boldness that he went up to him, and commenced a familiar conversation with him.

Aesop’s conclusion being,  “Acquaintance softens prejudices.”

Once more we take a lead from Fred Beuchner when speaking of the Lord’s Prayer says, “You need to be bold in another way to speak the second half (of the Lord’s Prayer). Give us. Forgive us. Don't test us. Deliver us. If it takes guts to face the omnipotence that is God's, it takes perhaps no less to face the impotence that is ours. We can do nothing without God. We can have nothing without God. Without God we are nothing.

Heavenly Father, thank You for the wonderful witness of Paul and for the many instances where You took simple people, absurd equipment, and seemingly inappropriate circumstances, to forward Your plans and purposes. Fulfil Your will in my life, I pray. May I be a willing witness in whatever circumstances I may find myself. In Jesus' name, AMEN.