Humble Boldness

I have been thinking about this term for the last several weeks, and how if fits in a Christian’s walk.  I was trying to determine how a Christian should carry themselves in the midst of being blessed.  It was clear to me that Christians are always called to walk humbly, but how is that done while at the same time providing their testimony of praise?  The term Humble Boldness came to mind.

Humble Boldness sounds like an oxymoron.  Humble can be defined as “not proud or haughty; not arrogant or assertive; reflecting, expressing, or offered in a spirit of deference or submission.”  Boldness can be defined as “the quality of standing out strongly and distinctly.”  These qualities seem in opposition to each other. God speaks about humbleness and several places in the Bible, and let’s Christians know that they will be rewarded for being humble.

If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. (II Chronicles 7:14)  

Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up. (James 4:10) By humility and the fear of the Lord are riches, and honour, and life. (Proverbs 22:4)

Based on the above scriptures, there appears to be no place for boldness, but I believe that Christians live a life of boldness in the Lord.  God is all powerful, and a Christian is a child of the most high God, and therefore can live a life of boldness in Him.

And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness. (Acts 4:31)

Long time therefore abode they speaking boldly in the Lord, which gave testimony unto the word of his grace, and granted signs and wonders to be done by their hands. (Acts 14:3)

So it is clear that when Christians speak about themselves or actions they have taken, they should do so with humility; however, when speaking about the Lord and what He has done, the Christian should speak with boldness and thus glorify God.  So while Humble Boldness may seem to be polar opposites, it is in Christ that it is able to be achieved.

Glory To God For All That He Has Done

Blessings – Janice