Be bold

Acts 18-19 Tell of Paul taking on the powers of evil with the help of the Holy Spirit.  God spoke to him telling him not to be afraid, and to keep on speaking, not to be silent.  'That was all he needed to stick it out.' (v11 Msg).  Paul was afraid, being hauled off to court on false charges, it seems he was tempted to be silent.  It is an example for us not to give up in the face of opposition.

'In the face of unjust criticism we can become bitter or better; upset or understanding; hostile or humble; furious or forgiving.'  Nicky Gumbel.

In some aspects of my work I've learned that keeping silent is better.  In the UK medical system anyway - not to blame or make excuses, you take the word bashing and be done with it.  I did that here in NZ the other day, and regretted not speaking out.  I was furious with the other person, I was upset, and even became bitter about it and hostile towards the other person (not for long though)!  The complete opposite of what I should have done.  I was given peace about the situation though.  I knew it was unjust criticism, I knew what the other person said was in no way true, and the patient got the care she needed, when she needed it, and I could take satisfaction in the fact the other person had no idea what she was talking about anyway.


The message - be bold, speak out.  In thinking about that situation though, I was too angry to probably speak out at the time, and would may be better to calm down, and then go back and say, excuse me, hang on a minute this is what is going to happen because you are wrong about what you said.


In the words of an old kids song:  'Be bold, be strong, for the Lord you God is with you'!!