14 My brothers and sisters, I myself am convinced that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, and are able to teach each other. 15 But I’ve written to you in a sort of daring way, partly to remind you of what you already know. I’m writing to you in this way because of the grace that was given to me by God. 16 It helps me to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles. I’m working as a priest of God’s gospel so that the offering of the Gentiles can be acceptable and made holy by the Holy Spirit. 17 So in Christ Jesus I brag about things that have to do with God. 18 I don’t dare speak about anything except what Christ has done through me to bring about the obedience of the Gentiles. He did it by what I’ve said and what I’ve done, 19 by the power of signs and wonders, and by the power of God’s Spirit. So I’ve completed the circuit of preaching Christ’s gospel from Jerusalem all the way around to Illyricum. 20 In this way, I have a goal to preach the gospel where they haven’t heard of Christ yet, so that I won’t be building on someone else’s foundation. 21 Instead, as it’s written, Those who hadn’t been told about him will see, and those who hadn’t heard will understand.
Reflection
What comes to mind if I say that someone was bold? Do you feel they were a bit pushy or were wearing bright colors or talked a lot or just “stepped out of their lane”? Does boldness make you feel uncomfortable, or do you embrace it?
Paul was bold in his preaching and bold in his directions for the Christians that he wrote to. He readily admitted it, felt it was his calling, and was proud to do it. Mary was bold in her actions in many areas of her life as Joe pointed out on Sunday. We all have a level of boldness that we are comfortable with – in ourselves and others.
Maybe you are thinking the boldest I can be is trying a new food or restaurant or wearing a pattern instead of a solid. Maybe you are someone who wants to mix things up daily – not ever afraid to speak up or wear something with bright colors with patterns all over! Maybe you are somewhere in between.
I tend to wear bright colors and mix my patterns – I love a flowered top with a striped bottom or vice versa. I can also be outspoken at times. Although there are certainly times when I don’t think I was outspoken enough. This Lenten season as we discuss new ways to help others and to renew/ build our own faith, can we think about ways we can be bold for the Kin-dom of God? It can certainly make us feel uneasy to step out there and try something new. It can be scary – what if we fail/ what if we look ridiculous/ what if…?
This is where I have to admit I failed to be bold today. I was invited to go to DC with Joe and Kate, but I passed because I have fairly strong claustrophobia, and I was afraid to be in a big crowd and worried that I would have a panic attack, so I declined.
I recently read an article written by a hospice nurse who said people in their last hours don’t typically talk about things they did. Instead, they talked about things they wished they had done such as telling someone how they felt, taking a risk on a business, going on a trip, or similar things. The explanations people gave for not doing those things at the time were exactly what we might think – they worried about what would happen if they followed through – loss of money, embarrassment, or heartache at being rejected.
I know in my case the reason was I didn’t want to cause others anguish and my fear of being a disruption instead of helping the cause of immigration. We know there are always risks involved when we step out of our comfort zone, and we are not always going to be successful. But that didn’t stop Paul from preaching to the Gentiles, and it shouldn’t stop us from trying something new to grow our faith and to help others this Lenten season. Paul had the power of the Holy Spirit and so do we.
Should I have trusted more? Probably. Should I try to find another way to help? Absolutely!
by Janet Waryck
For Pondering and Prayer
What is something you can try this Lenten season to grow in your faith and to help others to see Jesus through you? There are lots of opportunities at MUMC – reading daily devotions or you can even join the team writing the devotions. You can watch Joe and Kate at 7am Monday through Thursday on Facebook Live (or watch it later in the day) or join the Zoom group on Tuesdays in March (details are all on the front page of the website). You can check out the other volunteer opportunities at church or in the community. Just decide to do one new thing and see if it leads you to do more or to continue to follow through after Lent is over. Go boldly!
Prayer: Jesus, you were bold in your life, and you have sent others after you to show us what boldness looks like. Help us to not be afraid to reach out to help others and to speak out against injustice when we see it. Help us to know you are with us through the Holy Spirit. Give us strength. Amen.
