Being gentle-bold in a not so gentle world...

Taking a risk ;) *photo created with the vrsly app

Session 3 - 
Being gentle-bold in a not so gentle world...Excellent.

Sometimes there are stories, true stories in Scripture, that are just wild. They remind us of a powerful God and His majestic handprint. They signify and remind us that His thoughts are not ours, and that’s ok. He is God and I am not.

Today’s Bible reading is one like that. Let’s open to Daniel 5. If you have your Bible out, please read all of chapter 5. I am going to highlight chunks here for the sake of an easier read on mobile devices.

Daniel 5:5-12 (ESV) -

“Immediately the fingers of a human hand appeared and wrote on the plaster of the wall of the king's palace, opposite the lampstand. And the king saw the hand as it wrote. Then the king's color changed, and his thoughts alarmed him; his limbs gave way, and his knees knocked together. The king called loudly to bring in the enchanters, the Chaldeans, and the astrologers. The king declared^[b] to the wise men of Babylon, “Whoever reads this writing, and shows me its interpretation, shall be clothed with purple and have a chain of gold around his neck and shall be the third ruler in the kingdom.” Then all the king's wise men came in, but they could not read the writing or make known to the king the interpretation. Then King Belshazzar was greatly alarmed, and his color changed, and his lords were perplexed.

The queen, because of the words of the king and his lords, came into the banqueting hall, and the queen declared, “O king, live forever! Let not your thoughts alarm you or your color change.  There is a man in your kingdom in whom is the spirit of the holy gods. In the days of your father, light and understanding and wisdom like the wisdom of the gods were found in him, and King Nebuchadnezzar, your father—your father the king—made him chief of the magicians, enchanters, Chaldeans, and astrologers,  because an excellent spirit, knowledge, and understanding to interpret dreams, explain riddles, and solve problems were found in this Daniel, whom the king named Belteshazzar. Now let Daniel be called, and he will show the interpretation.”

Daniel 5:30-31, 6:1-3 -

“That very night Belshazzar the Chaldean king was killed. And Darius the Mede received the kingdom, being about sixty-two years old.

It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom 120 satraps, to be throughout the whole kingdom; and over them three high officials, of whom Daniel was one, to whom these satraps should give account, so that the king might suffer no loss. Then this Daniel became distinguished above all the other high officials and satraps, because an excellent spirit was in him. And the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom.”

In this section of scripture Daniel is asked to interpret the hand and the writing on the wall. It’s interesting that they always seemed to call Daniel when no one else could interpret it.

There’s something different about him, they said. He knows stuff, they said. He has good insight, they said. Let’s ask Daniel, they said.

All Daniel did was make himself available to be asked. He was willing to say the hard stuff, when hard stuff needed to be said. He was honest and bold, but gentle-bold, not intentionally hurtful to make a point bold. 

Daniel was not given cheerful things to interpret. The writing on the wall wasn’t touchy feely goodness. This is a prophecy that would bring the king’s death and hand a kingdom over. But Daniel proclaimed it, truthfully. He didn’t add a commentary. He made himself available when Truth was asked for. And that’s one thing we can do also.

We look different. The peace that passes understanding and Hope that anchors the soul are inside of us, leaking out. We have something different about us. We have insight into the things of the world and the struggles of this world that others may not have.

May we also be available. Let’s not avoid the hard conversations. Daniel’s “excellent spirit” was the Spirit of the Living God inside of Him. We have that Spirit too! It may not be that we are called to interpret the writing on the wall of the king, but perhaps a friend is asking you to interpret “the writing on the wall” of their current struggle or to point out the glory of God in their current joy.

Trust Him to give you the words, at just the proper time, in the proper way. This is one reason it is so helpful to be in the Word daily. The words really do knit themselves in our heart and roll off our tongue when we need them.

Onward we go. Sharing His Light. Gentle-bold, girls! Gentle-bold.

Discussion questions -  Share an opportunity you had to be gentle bold with God’s Word. How can we apply gentle-boldness while using social media? What is the most difficult topic for you to be gentle-bold about?