Acts 4:23-31
When they were released, they went to their friends and reported what the chief priests and the elders had said to them. 24 And when they heard it, they lifted their voices together to God and said, “Sovereign Lord, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and everything in them, 25 who through the mouth of our father David, your servant, said by the Holy Spirit,
“‘Why did the Gentiles rage,
and the peoples plot in vain?
26 The kings of the earth set themselves,
and the rulers were gathered together,
against the Lord and against his Anointed’—
27 for truly in this city there were gathered together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, 28 to do whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take place. 29 And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness, 30 while you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” 31 And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness.
Though it didn’t look promising, Seth Smith went to the plate in Game 5 of an American League baseball division series in Oakland, Calif., last night (Thursday, Oct. 10, 2013). With two outs he didn’t throw in the towel. Down 3-0 the A’s didn’t skip the 9th inning. Having lost this game they will not now give up baseball. But too often we Christians strike out on the first pitch. And that should not be.
Having been arrested for healing a lame man in the name of Jesus, imprisoned, and now released from custody, these Jesus-followers determined to pray for boldness to speak the word. They didn’t ask for a pass. They didn’t give up witnessing. They asked God to consider the threats of their persecutors, and prayed that God would give them the courage to continue to spread his word.
Even more interesting, however, is the matter-of-fact conviction that God was reigning over all, and that he would continue his good work in Jesus’ name. In an almost offhanded manner, they prayed for boldness, “…while you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” They knew God reigned over all things. They knew they were securely in the care of the One who had faced, tasted, and conquered death. They knew God’s work would go on – no matter what. So they remained steadfast. They didn’t give up when challenged. They didn’t lose heart.
I need that kind of resolute conviction. I’d rather not have to fight to give witness to my God. Even in the face of subtle persecution, it’s easy to back off. And while I don’t believe we need to be bullies for Jesus, we don’t need to be wimps in the face of persecution either. Christians today are literally facing death because of their faith. In North Korea, Syria, Libya, Egypt, the Sudan, Afghanistan, and Pakistan – to name a few – bombings, torture, imprisonment, and worse fates are visited on those who follow Jesus. It’s a good day to pray for boldness, realizing that God’s reign is not shaken even in the worst situations of injustice, and look for signs of his reign in our daily lives.
Michael Frost recently said there are four ways that the reign of God is manifest, and which we may demonstrate that to others:
- Reconciliation between God and between peoples
- Justice – in particular for the poor and those who have no voice
- Beauty – as opposed to the squalor of sin, violence, debauchery, and decay
- Wholeness – health and wellness: a body-mind-spirit redemption
Which of these might you boldly demonstrate today?
David Bahn - Reflections 
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