Acts 18:9-11 – “And the Lord said to Paul in the night by a vision, “Do not be afraid any longer, but go on speaking and do not be silent; 10 for I am with you, and no man will attack you to harm you, for I have many people in this city.”   NASB

In this present hour, I am amazed at how many in Christian leadership have become silent on many things.  I am not sure of all the reasons, but I am fully cognizant of the reality that many are willingly silent and aware of the result of that silence.  This is a devotional and not an attempt to make a political statement, but regardless of the issue before us, if we are charged with caring for the flock of God, we must sound the alarm and declare God’s purpose and principles!  Sometimes we have to rock the boat in order to save lives!

How can we stand before God and explain why we opted to remain silent in areas where God’s heart, word, precepts, and principles were violated, ignored, or trampled underfoot?  How can we stand before our people and explain to them why we have been silent? 

You are not silent when it comes to your own children when you see them heading for difficulty, trouble, or disaster because you love them too much to remain silent.  Do we not love people enough to take a position that might be viewed negatively by human authorities and those opposed to God and His purposes? 

Do we not believe that God’s Word is true, and that God is the Omnipotent, Omniscient, and Omnipresent Creator of all things?  If we do, then we must realize that we have a mandate from Him to “Sound the Alarm” when the alarm needs to be sounded.  Is God not God over all matters of life?  Does God not have authority in both spiritual matters and political matters? 

Paul was undergoing severe trials and facing severe persecution, including the threat of death, and the vision indicates there was trepidation in his heart.  When God comes to anyone as He did with Joshua and says, “Do not be afraid,” there is fear lurking or attempting to take root in the heart and mind.  When God says, “Do not be silent,” He means, “Do not be silent!” but proclaim that which is true and right.  We have a mission and a commission to take the message of the Gospel to the entire world.  We are also charged with sounding the alarm when danger is present or possible. 

I speak to the under-shepherds watching over local flocks of God’s sheep; this is a love and obedience matter.  Your silence is sometimes disobedience and could be viewed as a lack of love.  A lack of love for the flock and a lack of love for the LORD!  Before you become angry with me, consider how God and people might view your silence.  If your child were about to step into a busy street and you sat silently watching that act, would that demonstrate love?  If you could give a word of advice to another and failed to do so, do you suppose they would look back on that event and say, “I’m so glad you loved me enough to be silent?”  NO, they would wonder if you loved them as much as you said you did.

As Christians, we have the benefit of God’s Truth revealed to our hearts, and we are responsible for handling and distributing that truth.  We can fear man, or we can demonstrate confidence in God.  Remember Jesus’ words in Matthew 10:26-29 – “Therefore do not fear them, for there is nothing concealed that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known.  27 ” What I tell you in the darkness, speak in the light; and what you hear whispered in your ear, proclaim upon the housetops.  28 “Do not fear those who kill the body but are unable to kill the soul, but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” NASB

May the Lord be with you as you experience the Holy Boldness to say what needs to be said on all matters of life for God and good.   Blessings!