Maybe it was the vehemence of St. Paul’s conversion event that made him so vociferous about his convictions when he preached. We may all have those days when certainty is the order of the day. (See my post of yesterday.) Most of us, however, have a smaller sphere of influence than Paul and are not in danger of death because of what we say. I often wonder if I would be so willing to speak about my faith if I lived in a place that was inimical to my way of speaking or if my beliefs were the same were I to be living at the same era as Paul. Would I be so moved if I stood with the Romans and heard him say, “I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor present things, nor future things, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (ROM 8)
The Sophia Center for Spirituality 
Good morning, Sister Lois. Since you put it as a question, let me suggest an answer: Yes, you would. You *would* be as bold as Paul, and you would lay your life down for Christ again and again, letting yourself be imprisoned and released if and when necessary, knocked unconscious and revived again, or shipwrecked and fished back out, learning as you go, whatever condition you might find yourself in, to be content with it (Phil 4:11). And I say that because I know that the Lord Jesus knows that that’s the desire of your heart. If you have any hidden weaknesses, fears, or resistances to moving forward so courageously and obediently, I know that you know that He has the power to remove them when He will.
I can imagine our positions being reversed, and my wondering out loud, in public, “Could I be as bold as Paul?” And then your writing to me: “Of course you could, John. If you are willing to let Him, He can do anything with you.” But that’s what we need friends for, to say to us the things that humility forbids us to say to ourselves.
Wow!🙏
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