Dont "Zip the Lip"

eDevotion

Encouragement for your daily walk with God

I’d be the first to admit that it is not easy to speak boldly about Jesus in our secular culture. The Christian message has been so effectively marginalized that many Christ followers “zip the lip” when it comes to speaking up for Christ. It reminds me of a toddler who runs around singing his lungs out, but when a Mother asks him to sing to others, the child buries his face in the back of her leg. Not only doesn’t he want to sing, he doesn’t want to be seen either.  

It’s sort of cute when the toddler hides behind his Mother, but it is not cute when a Christ follower hides his faith in Christ. Rationalizations like, “I don’t know enough of the Bible” or “I don’t speak well” or “Talking about Jesus might damage my relationship,” isn’t enough.

That’s why God offers Pentecost to each of us just as He did the disciples. By saying that, I don’t mean you have to be Pentecostal. The promise of Pentecost was power to witness for Christ. Here is what Jesus told them, “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth” [Acts 1:8].

We have a message: Christ was crucified, buried, and He rose again, securing our salvation for time and eternity. Paul said it beautifully, “He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification” [Romans 4:25].

That is life-changing truth! It’s the truth that motivates us to live for Him, to speak boldly about Him. So given your next opportunity, don’t be paralyzed by fear, be filled with the Spirit! Dare to speak about His resurrection love—the Good News of life in His name.

On their release, Peter and John went back to their own people and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said to them. 24 When they heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God. “Sovereign Lord,” they said, “You made the heaven and the earth and the sea, and everything in them. 25 You spoke by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of Your servant, our father David: ‘Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? 26 The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together against the Lord and against his Anointed One.’ 27 Indeed Herod and Pontius Pilate met together with the Gentiles and the people of Israel in this city to conspire against Your holy servant Jesus, whom You anointed. 28 They did what Your power and will had decided beforehand should happen. 29 Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable Your servants to speak Your word with great boldness.  Acts 4:23-29