When I was in high school, I worked for a couple of years at the fairgrounds setting up for the George Paul Memorial Bull Riding. This was the closest I ever got to the dreams of a kid who grew up in Southwest Texas. The idea of climbing on one of those powerful bulls and attempting to hold on for dear life was quite intriguing to me, and, to a certain degree, it still is.
To ride a bull, I imagine it takes the ability to be bold. To be a Christian is to be bold. We must be bold enough to take a stand and not give in to the sin that once entangled us. We must be bold to share the Word of Truth within our sphere of influence. We must be bold to make the Lord’s priorities our priorities. When the Apostles first faced persecution and opposition they prayed for boldness (cf. Acts 4:29).
Paul wrote to Timothy these words, "Fight the good fight of the faith, lay hold on the life eternal, whereunto thou wast called, and didst confess the good confession in the sight of many witnesses. I charge thee in the sight of God, who giveth life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who before Pontius Pilate witnessed the good confession; that thou keep the commandment, without spot, without reproach, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ," 1 Timothy 6:12-14
In life, we hold on often to the physical and the temporal. We hold on for dear life as we are bucked. We worry and we strive over things that in the end will be burned up. Paul inspired by the Holy Spirit gave Timothy and us today the direction that is needed. We can take hold of something much greater. We can take hold of our eternal life by carrying the good confession that Jesus Christ is Lord in all areas of our lives. When this is true, the testimony of our hearts and our hands will exalt the Lord. Jesus our Savior was bold enough to face Pontius Pilate with the good confession. The Apostles preached it boldly. Go and do likewise.
Grace and Peace,
R D. Beavers
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