It is unfortunate that Christians are often characterized by the vice of timidity. In the early church, the Saints were characterized by boldness. Timidity really should be as out of place amidst God’s people as a tuxedo on a porcupine. As Christians, we are disposed to keep our hands neatly tucked in our pockets. We keep our lips shut. We politely mind our own business. They will know we are Christians…by our ability to always play it safe.

But what if…what if we really acted as if the Lord Jesus Christ, who was publicly put to death by the Romans at the behest of the Jewish rulers, and rose again by the power of God, really is the King and Lord of this earth. It is easy to recite the creed. But one of these days, someone of us must get up the gumption to actually live in the terrifying but glorious light of reality of it. To be a Christian is to live by this sort of bold and daring faith. Risky faith. The sort of faith demands risk, danger, sweat, and maybe even your own blood.

The exhortation is this. Undertake mighty deeds for the glory of the Lord. You young men, jump in a pit with a lion on a snowy day. You ladies, prepare hospitable feasts for the refreshment of strangers. Be bold in what you undertake. This, of course, is different from being haphazard or going full berserker mode. However, you haven’t been redeemed by the precious blood of Christ in order to shuffle around earth for 80 or so years making extra sure not to rearrange any of the cultural furniture. As one missionary of another era said, “Expect great things from God; attempt great things for God.” Remember, we are not of those who shrink back; rather, we are those who believe.