Fear is a liar.

Paul's letters intimidate me. He was moved to do extraordinary things because of his love for Jesus, and he wrote from his prison cell to his fellow followers of Christ, trying to encourage them.

His boldness, despite his discouraging circumstances, feels impossible to imitate. He was a pretty hard act to follow.

He said in Phillipians 3:7-8:

"But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things."

He is saying that he actually refuses to let anything stand in the way of spreading the word about Jesus, because the fears that would stop him simply fade into insignificance when he compares them with the love Jesus has shown him.

When we look at applying this to our own lives, it can be easy to choose for the words stay on the page. If we're feeling really holy, maybe we could underline them.

But I believe that Paul really was trying to encourage us despite all his grand statements that can seem so terrifying - and this is why: Paul reveals to us his secret.

He also felt insufficient, he also felt scared.

(Phillipians 1:20) "I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or death."

Paul was not a naturally brave person. Instead, he was expectant.

He recognised that he lacked courage, but knew he could ask God for it with full confidence. All the bravery that he demonstrated was not his, but came from God, for His glory.

We don't need to be salesmen of God's love. We just need to tell it.

Someone once said to me something that I think can be applied to this trail of thought:


'The truth is like a lion. Once you set it free, it can defend itself.'