Building One Another  

Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing. I Thessalonians 5:11

                       Be Bold

 Dear Friend,                

Jesus told a story. Suppose You have a surprise visitor who wishes to stay overnight. You are happy to extend the hospitality of your home but suddenly remember, you have nothing to offer to your guest for breakfast.

It’s midnight! Yet, you bang on your neighbor’s door and ask for bread.

“Go away,”hollers your friend, but you have the nerve to stay there knocking until your friend gets out of bed and gives you the bread.

Jesus concludes your neighbor friend will not get up and help you because of friendship but because of your boldness!

Some people think this story is simply about persistence – that we have to get our God’s attention with repeated prayers even though God is an incredibly attentive and loving Father (see Luke 11:1-13).

Another way to think about this story is to look at the boldness, the shameless audacity (NIV)of the one who asks. Imagine actually knocking on your neighbor’s door at midnight!

Whatever your need, whatever burden you bear, whatever you carry within your soul, “Be Bold,”and freely approach your heavenly Lord.  

God loves you and through Jesus Christ is always thinking lovingly about you!

“Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” Hebrews 4:16

Joy to you – E. Stanley Ott

©Copyright 2019E. Stanley Ott
*Scripture from the ESV

‍

1. What are your greatest concerns at the moment - for other people and situations in our world and for yourself?
2. Be bold. Offer those concerns to your Lord trusting in the truth of Hebrews 4:16: “Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” Hebrews 4:16 ESV
3. Rest in Philippians 4:6-7: Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.