DEVO: Being Bolder

As a Christian, many times we are in the "hang on 'till the Lord comes" mentality. While there are seasons of trusting God in this way, I also read of expectation of victory and confidence with our journey of faith.

Romans 8:15-17 (NLT) So you should not be like cowering, fearful slaves. You should behave instead like God's very own children, adopted into his family—calling him "Father, dear Father." [16] For his Holy Spirit speaks to us deep in our hearts and tells us that we are God's children. [17] And since we are his children, we will share his treasures—for everything God gives to his Son, Christ, is ours, too. But if we are to share his glory, we must also share his suffering.

I can imagine what a cowering, fearful slave must be like. Being overpowered, beaten down, and declared worthless day-after-day certainly would be devastating. I know prisoners of war hang on to memories and very little pieces of hope to just enable them to get through the night until they will face the same abuse the next morning.

In this scripture passage, Paul challenges us to be confident, to hold our head higher, to know our source. God is stronger than any enemy we could ever face. He is the hope of our nights, but also the confidence of our next morning. As His Holy Spirit speaks deep within, we can have a boldness in our faith that is a new resolve. It's the same kind of confidence that a young child has when he declares, "My dad can beat up your dad!"

Even greater is the message that tells us we can know of our worth to God. His CHILDREN! Offspring by our faith in Jesus Christ who are confident because God has adopted us as His own children. We can share in many things because of this unique relationship. The treasures of God and the sufferings -- difficulties of life that help us later to share in strengthening others. Later to be used as tools of our Father in sharing ministry gifts to encourage people when they are hurting.

So be encouraged, lift up your head higher, have confidence in our Father, God. Live each day looking at how we can share our wonderful faith journey with another.