Bolder and Stronger as the enemy approaches

Bolder and Stronger as the enemy approaches . . . that was Paul's character. What about you and me? Do we shrink under pressure? Do we keep quiet when people talk negatively about faith and Jesus Christ? Are we living out loud for Jesus or hiding our light and only using it when it is comfortable?

Read what Paul did when the heat was on . . .

For we have found this man a plague, a creator of dissension among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes. He even tried to profane the temple, and we seized him, and wanted to judge him according to our law. But the commander Lysias came by and with great violence took him out of our hands, commanding his accusers to come to you. By examining him yourself you may ascertain all these things of which we accuse him.” And the Jews also assented, maintaining that these things were so.Then Paul, after the governor had nodded to him to speak, answered: “Inasmuch as I know that you have been for many years a judge of this nation, I do the more cheerfully answer for myself, because you may ascertain that it is no more than twelve days since I went up to Jerusalem to worship. And they neither found me in the temple disputing with anyone nor inciting the crowd, either in the synagogues or in the city. Nor can they prove the things of which they now accuse me. But this I confess to you, that according to the Way which they call a sect, so I worship the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the Law and in the Prophets. I have hope in God, which they themselves also accept, that there will be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and the unjust. This being so, I myself always strive to have a conscience without offense toward God and men.(Acts 24:5-16)

Paul did not shy away or crumble before the rulers. He boldly stated his beliefs. What will we do when pressed about our faith? Will we bolder and stronger or weakened?