The Righteous Are Bold

Joseph Esposito
Proverbs 28:1 says, The wicked flee when no man pursueth: but the righteous are bold as a lion.

Pastor Meyers preached a great message last week called Living with Confidence as a Christian. He showed why David had boldness before both God and man. As I read Proverbs twenty-eight this morning, a similar thought stuck out.

As Christians, we are to be bold. We are to live our lives on the offense. We are to stand, and march forward. However, many times it seems Christians live on defense, or are found back-peddling, and lacking that boldness. There may be other reasons for this. However, the verse above reminds us that one way of living produces boldness, and the other one of timidity when it comes to spiritual things.

The first part of the verse tells us why a man lives timidly, instead of boldly, when he has no reason to: there is something wrong in his life. No one knows about it, but he does. And so, he lives in fear instead of victory. Why is this? First, it is because of his guilt. A man with guilt does not live the victorious Christian life that the Lord wants us to live. We will not walk with strength and boldness when there’s guilt. Both science and Scripture tell us that we aren’t made to live with guilt. It’s not healthy, physically or spiritually. Secondly, we understand that this man doesn’t have a clear conscience. He knows there’s something there, so he hears a sound, and runs, when it’s simply the rustling of leaves. Why? Because his conscience is pricking at him. Paul has so much to say about keeping a clear conscience, even in the smallest of matters.

But the second part of the verse tells us that the righteous are bold as a lion. That’s quite a statement. Lions are quite the bold and fearsome creatures. Instead of a timid, flinching, fleeing man, we see one that stands his ground, and has great boldness. How does this man have this boldness? It comes through righteous living. Righteous living and walking in and by God’s Word will produce boldness that’s required to live the victorious Christian life.

What’s the point? The Lord wants us to live and walk with boldness. But many do not and cannot because of a guilt, and an unclear conscience. Do you want to begin walking this life of faith with the boldness Christ wants you to have? Maybe there’s something there that’s hindering this? First, we must not live with guilt. We must get right with God, or the brother or sister that comes to mind, or bring whatever it is to the light, and Christ, by His forgiveness will clear the guilt. Then, going forward, let us live a life of a clear conscience. If we do these two things, walking righteously, we can and will have the boldness Christ wants us to have. Let’s be bold Christians, making the difference Christ wants to make in a world that desperately needs us to!

Joseph Esposito

Bro. Esposito serves as the vice president of our Bible college, teaches the Cross Point Adult Bible Class, and heads up our children and teen Sunday school ministry. He and his wife Jennifer have six wonderful children.

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