…we had boldness in our God to declare to you the gospel of God in the midst of much conflict. (I Thessalonians 2:2 ESV)
Boldness
When I was picked on in elementary school, I wished I had a gigantic, fanged, ferocious dog. When I was caught in a sudden squall out on Silver Lake, I wished I had a 350 hp engine instead of our much smaller one. When the economy threatens to fall I have wished I had a billionaire friend.
Boldness really does not come from within. Boldness comes from something outside of ourselves that we can depend on… something powerful, reliable, personal, and present.
Paul declares that he is not simply bold, but He is bold in our God. That tiny word, “in” is unfortunately small. Paul is bold because He knows God. Paul is bold because God knows him. Paul is bold because God enables him. Paul is bold because God is stronger than any enemy. Paul is bold because Paul walks with God. Paul is bold because God surrounds him. Paul is bold because Paul is on God’s side. Paul is bold because God has pulled Paul into Himself.
All of which is true, wonderfully and only because of Jesus Christ.
That is why we Christians can be bold. Not because of self-worth, our knowledge, our skill sets, our wisdom, or our experience. The world finds boldness in those things and will always fail.
We are peculiar, we have boldness in God.