Giving Ourselves as Gifts: Be Bold

In normal conversation, there are some things that are easy to talk about. We can bring up school, or work, or family and friends, or any recreational activities we’re involved with. We might even mention what church we go to. However, there’s one thing we rarely talk about, and that’s our faith. We have this amazing story about how Christ came into our life. Whether it began with our baptisms as infants or our conversions as adults, we all have a story. So why don’t we tell it?
The answer is simple. We’re afraid. On the surface level, we just don’t want to make things awkward; but on the deeper level, we don’t want to be rejected. We don’t want to lose our friendships because of our faith.
Well, I have good news for you – or rather, the Bible does. In Acts, Peter demonstrates an incredible boldness. He tells his story to the people, describing to them the life of his Teacher, Jesus.
“The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified his servant Jesus, whom you delivered over and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he had decided to release him. But you denied the Holy and Righteous One, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, and you killed the Author of life, whom God raised from the dead. To this we are witnesses” (3:13-15).
Notice what Peter does there. He points out that he was a witness to these things, but nowhere in his narrative does he claim it as HIS story. Instead, it is the story of Jesus that he was privileged to be a part of. He wasn’t afraid to tell his story, because it wasn’t his at all. We have this same advantage. We don’t have to be afraid of telling our story, because it’s not about us – it’s about the One who saved us, the Author of our lives, whom God raised from the dead. With our Savior on our side, rejection is no longer something to be feared. We know that no matter what happens, we are redeemed. It’s because of the story that we don’t have to be afraid to tell it. So let’s be bold, as Peter was. It may not be easy, but it will be worth it.