>Defended

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Do you live like you’re defended? I mean, really and truly defended!

Guarded. Protected. Rescued.

There is Someone who stands up for you. Every time. Without fail.

Do you live like you believe that? Really believe it?

No, neither do I, for if we did we would live with an incredible boldness in all we proceeded to do for the gospel of Christ. We would continue to be bold even when things began to fall apart and criticism arose because we would be confident of our rescue.

In Acts 26, Paul is giving his defense before King Agrippa. In the middle of his “testimony” about his conversion on the road to Damascus, Paul tells how Jesus commissioned him to be a witness to all he has seen and will see. Then there is this little statement in verse 17. “…rescuing you from the Jewish people and from the Gentiles, to whom I am sending you.” (Acts 26:17)

Meanwhile, in Mark 14:3-9 we find the story of Mary anointing Jesus for burial. In the midst of the story we find verse six, in which Jesus says, “Let her alone; why do you bother her? She has done a good deed to Me.”

Both Paul and Mary had a bold calling, as do we. Paul was warned from the beginning of his life as a bond-servant of Christ Jesus that he would suffer much for the sake of the gospel. Mary, I’m sure, anticipated criticism for her actions. And yet both Paul and Mary moved forward in boldness.

So often I think we are afraid that if we are criticized because of our boldness, then our effectiveness is hindered. It’s almost as if we feel that we have to be considered sane and right in all things to actually accomplish anything in this world. We cannot run the risk of being off the wall. We have to be normal. We have to be socially acceptable.

But, being normal and socially acceptable rarely lines up with the bold actions God calls us to. Instead, the world around us sees us much as Festus saw Paul in Acts 26:24. “Paul, you are out of your mind! Your great learning is driving you mad!” This type of response scares us because we are convinced that we cannot be effective if we are viewed this way.

Christ worked through Paul and Mary for His own glory and purposes. He used their seeming insanity to accomplish His purposes. And, in doing so, He defended them both.

If we never step out in boldness, we never have need of experiencing the defense of Christ. Oh, what we miss when we do not experience that joy! Oh that we may step out boldly and truly test the fullness of His defense for us.

For yes, we are defended.