UNIFY 7 of 11: THE SPIRIT OF BOLDNESS 

We often meet the disciples of Jesus living out of fear, huddled together and hoping to be left alone by non-Christians. They understandably did not want to engage their Jewish or pagan neighbours. After all, the Romans and Jews had collaborated to kill Jesus. Cowardice is the name for this fearful reaction, and it is one of the deadliest spiritual diseases for Christians today.

Human courage can only take us so far. We can try to make ourselves ignore obstacles, just to forge ahead. But the real answer to our cowardice is the Holy Spirit. The greatest gift of God, is God in person, sent by the Father through the prayer of Jesus. Jesus wants us to be filled with his Holy Spirit, who gives us the Spirit of boldness.

On the day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit comes upon the huddled disciples in fire and wind, and they are remade, new again, and spiritually on fire. They storm out of their place of hiding, and what do they do? They speak, they give witness to the saving death and resurrection of Jesus, to a city full of people who had recently turned against him. What follows? The miracle of conversion, hearts and lives, relationships and communities transformed. (Acts 2)

This same Holy Spirit comes to us today. He blesses us with God’s mightiest gift, forgiveness of sins, to be shared with all (John 20). He gives each disciple of Jesus spiritual gifts, which empower us to build up the community of disciples, and to lead us into mission.

Let us all be open-hearted to receive the gift of the Holy Spirit, even when we are dominated by cowardice. He will make us bold, set us on fire, and allow us to bear much fruit in the lives of people around us.