What I say to you in the dark, tell in the light; and what you hear whispered, proclaim from the housetops.” vs. 27
Matthew 10:24-28
When Jesus sent his disciples on their mission to bring healing and good news to the helpless and the harassed, he knew that there would be difficulties for them. They could expect rejection and even persecution–not everyone would be excited to receive them. It would be easy for them to become timid and adopt risk-averse tactics. So he told them plainly that he expected them to be bold in their actions and especially in their proclamation. Boldness is still a valued attribute for those who are called to go with the gospel, and it’s still difficult for most. We would much rather go undercover as Christians and keep our faith a secret from those we encounter on the way. We’re afraid that if we are bold in our speech, people might be offended and we could possibly lose friends. We don’t want to be one of those “pushy” types who try to impose their beliefs on others. Now it is true that we live in a time dominated by brash and blustery trash-talkers, and we rightly refrain from that kind of demagoguery. But we have a message that is healing balm to those who are hurting, and silence is not a strategy for mission. Somehow we need to find the courage of those early disciples and boldly risk rejection for the sake of the gospel.
Thought for the Day: When is timidity an issue for me?
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