Agabus had already seen one major prophecy fulfilled in Acts 11, yet it still must have taken incredible courage to boldly and publicly declare what would happen to Paul. I think about how often I hesitate to speak, replaying conversations in my head and wrestling with questions like, “What if I’m wrong?” What if I don’t say it clearly? What if it costs me my reputation, my job, or even a friendship?
To counter those fears, we should (1)anchor ourselves in Scripture. Does what we sense align with God’s Word? (2)Pray for wisdom and peace. (3)Seek counsel from trusted friends who point us back to Christ. Too often, I skip straight to the third without first seeking the Lord deeply. Even while writing these devotionals, I’ve been convicted by how intentionally I dig into Scripture for the sake of writing. Shouldn’t we pursue His Word like that daily?
I was recently spinning in my head over this topic about being bold with my voice. I asked a friend, “What if I’m wrong?” She simply responded, “What if you are?” That perspective reminded me of an important truth. Even if we are wrong, the truth of the Gospel does not change, and anything of significance will be restored in Heaven. We don’t have to be frozen in fear because his grace covers us and his truth remains. No wonder Paul could write in Philippians 1:21, “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.” When we hold an eternal perspective, obedience matters more than outcome, and boldness flows from trust in Him rather than confidence in ourselves.
Lord, make us obedient and bold for the sake of the Gospel. Root us deeply in Your Word, guard our tongues with Your truth, surround us with people who point us back to You, and fix our eyes on eternity over earthly security. In Jesus’ name, Amen.