"Bold"

"Therefore, since we have such hope, we act very boldly."

- 2 Corinthians 3:12 (NAB)

I think I got my first "lack of caffeine" headache the other day.  I still want to believe it is just psychological, with no medical certainty.  I am not really sure what to make of it, but there it was.  The remedy?  A venti Gold Coast Blend from Starbucks.  Extra bold.  Not bold.  EXTRA BOLD.  Better than a pill, the coffee worked its medicinal purpose, sending my headache away.

I probably cannot blame anyone but myself.  Over the last twenty years, my coffee preferences have gravitated towards the extra bold.  Folgers and Maxwell house no longer offer the same satisfaction as the selections offered at my local Starbucks.  As I read this passage of Scripture the other day while drinking a nice travel mug of Starbucks Christmas Blend, I begin to wonder what my "spiritual blend" is.

Some like their Christianity as a nice little morning diversion to help them "get moving" for the day.  Maybe something a little light and gentle.  A relationship with the Creator is not something to get all worked up about.  God is there when He is needed.  The church has other people doing stuff.  The Bible is ok, I guess, but why read it everyday.  It is a nice easy blend of Christianity.  It is enjoyble, but ultimately, you really do not have to deal with the headaches.

Others like a little more "kick" to their Christianity.  A richer, more balnced blend, if you will.  They take their places at the church.  They love the great old stories of the Bible.  They can tell you about the life of Jesus, quote spiritual maxims, and tell you about the "good ol' days of the church", all while feeling really good about it.  It is a nice blend.  It showcases our spirituality without being too radical.  It is one that, for a moment, can give you a little satisfaction.

And then there are those apostle Paul types.  No watered down Christianity for them.  No cream or sugar, please.  In fact, a couple of shots of espresso will top off that extra bold, extra tall cup of power surge really nice, thank you.  What type of Christianity does this look like?  It is a radical abandonment to the Father for a divine purpose.  It is not for the faint of heart.  There is nothing safe or gentle about it.  In 2 Corinthians, Paul speaks of great pressure that called into question his own endurance (1:8 - 10), anguish of heart (2:4), carrying the death of Jesus, so his life might be revealed (4:10 - 12).  Notice Paul's words in chapter 6:

³ We put no stumbling block in anyone’s path, so that our ministry will not be discredited. ⁴ Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance; in troubles, hardships and distresses; ⁵ in beatings, imprisonments and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights and hunger; ⁶ in purity, understanding, patience and kindness; in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love; ⁷ in truthful speech and in the power of God; with weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left; ⁸ through glory and dishonor, bad report and good report; genuine, yet regarded as impostors; ⁹ known, yet regarded as unknown; dying, and yet we live on; beaten, and yet not killed; ¹⁰ sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything (NIV).

Now that's boldness!  Why could Paul be so bold?  He knew the hope he had.  A relationship with God gave him a hope, not only in the present, but in the life to come.  When Paul locked on to that, He could do nothing except to act with boldness.  The greek word "parrhesia" means "freedom and frankness in speech."  It also carries the meaning of "free and fearless confidence."  There is no way Paul would travel this road if it were not for the hope he had.  This was born out of his relationship with God.

So, what is your blend?  The easy way might bring minimal satisfaction, but true Christianity is about abandoning ourselves to the Father.  When we discover the hope that we have been given, and when we realize that we are messengers of that hope, watered down Christianity does not work anymore.  Yeah, there are some headaches when participating at this level.  Oh, but how good it is when we see God at work!

I could say more, but my mug is empty and I am going to visit some of the shut ins.  I think there is a Starbucks on the way.

"Endless"

3) Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, 4) who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.
2 Corinthians 1:3 - 4 (NIV)


Last night was a fun night for two of my daughters and I.  We each made our first ever trip to Red Robin.  For those of you who have never been there, their specialty is gourmet burgers.  Not one of us was disappointed in our experience.


One of the features offered was something called "Endless (or bottomless) Fries."  No commentary is necessary.  You could eat steak fries until your belly button popped out.  Two thumbs way up!  In reality, while that made for a great marketing tool, and a definite reason to go back, I am not sure many health professionals would recommend eating steak fries until you passed out.


There are many things that offer an "endless" supply.  Some of those things are not good for us, either in the physical realm or the spiritual realm.  The old adage is still true:  just becuase you can, does not mean that you should.  But there is something that you or I could never get enough of.  And unlike steak fries, ice cream, or candy, this will never leave you with regrets.  I read the above passage from 1 Corinthians 1 yesterday.  As I read the Beattitudes from Matthew 5 as a companion to this passage, I was impreseed with the notion that the mercy and love of God are "endless".


As the "God of all comfort", I can believe that there is nothing that God cannot handle.  His love for me is so deep and rich, and His power is so infinite, I can never exhaust Him.  When the road is long, He is there.  When the journey is tiresome, He is there.  When companions along the way complicate things or even abandon us in our greatest time of need, He is there.  In Matthew 5, the poor in spirit, those who mourn, the meek, the hungry and thirsty, and the persecuted, all find a grace sufficient for their every need.  Just when all hope seems to be gone, God continues to pour out His goodness.  He continually speaks into and acts upon our need.  Scott Wesley Brown penned these words to this great song entitled "He Will Carry You":


There is no problem too big God cannot solve it. There is no mountain too tall He cannot move it.
There is no storm too dark God cannot calm it. There is no sorrow too deep, God cannot soothe it.

If He carried the weight of the world upon His shoulders.
I know , my brother, that He will carry you.
If He carried the weight of the world upon His shoulders.
I know, my sister, that He will carry you.


Not only does He supply comfort and encouragement for each of us, but He pours out enough to reach others around us (1 Cor. 1:4).  The same comfort that has been lavished on us is used to touch those in our sphere of influence.  As we experience all that God is in the midst of our disappointments, failures, and trials, we are to spread that comort to others.  Enough for my neighbor and me?  Now that is "endless"!  AND, it is good for you!


So upon your next visit to Red Robin, enjoy the fries.  But know that it is God alone who can endlessly supply all we need and more.