If I Only Had The Nerve

FOUNTAINS OF WISDOM-A STUDY IN PROVERBS PART 45-IF I ONLY HAD THE NERVE

Proverbs 28: (NIV) The wicked flee though no one pursues,
but the righteous are as bold as a lion.

Having seen the wisdom of God through His word—being drawn ever closer to desire His mind in us and having tasted of the Grace which is ever about the work of transforming our stony self-exalting hearts into hearts that can be filled with God’s love and joy; then, what can make us bold to come before His throne? The more I know of His righteousness as displayed in His word, the more I recognize my own guilt before Him. The more I taste of His Grace, the more I recognize the utter unworthiness of my own heart. How often do I react to any situation with first trying to defend myself? How often does fear play a role in my responses? When you hear a police siren directly behind you, what is your first reaction? Or what is the first thing you feel when your boss calls you into their office-particularly if there had been a major down-sizing in the company? How do you respond when suddenly you are faced with illness or cancer? Or what if, suddenly you are faced with losing one by one those things you use to hold dear to you?

 

artwork used by permission of Ronald Barba and is protected by copyright

I daresay that the more we know of God, the more we recognize our own unworthiness and our guilt before a righteous God. That feeling of guilt causes us to fear and run to hide even when nothing is pursuing beyond our own sense of guilt.  How can I boldly go before God to ask of Him anything? How can I witness for Him?  What if I fail?

After all, He is so majestic, righteousness, and filled with Glory that I must bow before Him in praise; even if He never gave me anything in return—even if heaven were not on the line. Is that not what is required of full repentance? Yet,

He has asked us to come to Him requesting that He provide the Grace to face today’s trials and temptations. How can this selfish heart ever have the right to ask anything of God? How can these guilt laden hands ever go out to labor for God boldly? What if in the midst of my witnessing for Christ, I fail and thus injure the name of Christ instead of lifting it higher? Where can I find the nerve to boldly proclaim the name of Christ without the fear of failing Him?

Ah, but there it is–the sweet savor of His Grace, the gentle look of my Savior who is now my great High Priest. He took my sin and my guilt upon the cross that I might be clothed in His righteousness. He has paid the price for me and stands in intercession at the throne on my behalf. Such love and grace is more than I will ever understand; yet, it is that love and grace which bids me to go boldly before His throne of grace where I may be covered by His mercy and covered by His grace in my time of need. I can tell Satan with all His fears to go away because I can be bold beside my King.

Hebrews 4 (GNV) ^{12 [h]}For the ^[i]word of God is ^[j]lively, and mighty in operation, and sharper than any two edged sword, and entereth through, even unto the dividing asunder of the ^[k]soul and the ^[l]spirit, and of the joints, and the marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts, and the intents of the heart.

¹³ Neither is there any creature, which is not manifest in ^[m]his sight: but all things are naked and open unto his eyes, with whom we have to do.

^{14 [n]}Seeing then that we have a great high Priest, which is entered into heaven, even Jesus the Son of God, let us ^[o]hold fast our profession.

^{15 [p]}For we have not an high Priest, which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities, but was in all things tempted in like sort, yet without sin.

¹⁶ Let us therefore go boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

Many years ago, I heard Ken Davis present a comedian presentation of what he called “Super Sheep” which I would recommend you go and check it out.   With comedy he made the clear point of the fact that we can be bold because of who God is. We are God’s workmanship, bold because of our Shepherd.

Look at Romans 8—which begins with “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit….⁹ But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.” And ends with, “³⁵ Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?³⁶ As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.³⁷ Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.³⁸ For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,³⁹ Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

So where can I find the strength to make me bold against the evils of this world and the guilt within my own heart? It is found in Christ Jesus, my Lord and King—He is my strength, my redeemer and my great shepherd.

 

It is Finished by Dustin Kensrue

 

New International Version (NIV)

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1599 Geneva Bible (GNV)

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© 2014 Effie Darlene Barba

Drawing used with written permission of Ronald Barba. © 2012 Ronald Barba and is protected under copyright laws. If you desire copies please go to:

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