My devotion today will probably be longer than usual, however, it speaks of today and how we should carry ourselves as Christians in these trying times we live in. Please take the time to read and understand. Some one's eternity may depend on it.
Luke 21:10-19 reads, "Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be great earthquakes, and in various places plagues and famines; and there will be terrors and great signs from heaven. But before all these things, they will lay their hands on you and will persecute you, delivering you to the synagogues and prisons, bringing you before kings and governors for My name's sake. It will lead to an opportunity for your testimony. So make up your minds not to prepare beforehand to defend yourselves; for I will give you utterance and wisdom which none of your opponents will be able to resist or refute. But you will be delivered up even by parents and brothers and relatives and friends, and they will put some of you to death, and you will be hated by all on account of My name. Yet not a hair of your head will perish. By your endurance you will gain your lives."
So that may be a lot to swallow right now, huh? Okay, let's take a step back and have a good look at what Jesus is saying to us. He just finished a few parables in the previous chapter and before that He drove the money-changers from the temple, Zaccheus was converted and He talked about the Resurrection. Good grief! A whole lot of things going on here and Jesus points out in the above scripture that "It will lead to an opportunity for your testimony!" Oh, my gosh, has He completely lost His mind? So much stuff taking place and suddenly, in the middle of an emotion filled couple of paragraphs Jesus suggests we should "brush up" on our testimony! Wow, what boldness and aggressiveness.
Listen to what Paul says over in Philippians 1:12-14, "Now I want you to know, brethren, that my circumstances have turned out for the greater progress of the gospel, so that my imprisonment in the cause of Christ has become well known throughout the whole praetorian guard and to everyone else, and that most of the brethren, trusting in the Lord because of my imprisonment, have far more courage to speak the word of God without fear." Okay, time out! They've all lost control. The brethren are "trusting in the Lord because of Paul's imprisonment?"
Can any of you get a glimpse of this subject with respect to what's going on in the world today. Each day another piece of "freedom" is taken away from an American, and not only Americans. We are fighting a battle here on earth and it is mounting. It is becoming more personal and aggressive. I've read so many comments from the Internet about Americans who are "fed up" with the status quo! They don't care to take it anymore. I've been saying for over 20 years now that America will fall from within and "civil unrest" may be our greatest threat.
So both Jesus and Paul, two genuine "leaders" suggest to us that our testimony is important. More important than keeping us out of a prison cell, our testimonies are the foundation of the Cause of Christ. Jesus looks at it as an opportunity to increase the kingdom of God and Paul looks at it as "creating far more courage to speak the Word of God without fear."
And finally, Jesus says to his disciples, "So make up your minds not to prepare beforehand to defend yourselves; for I will give you utterance and wisdom which none of your opponents will be able to resist or refute." Are you worried about what to say? Is that what keeps you from sharing the truth of God to others. Jesus says, I'll give you the words to say, and these words, none can either resist or refute.
On a personal note, I think that we are so close to the Lord's return that sometimes I believe I can feel the brush of angel wings against my cheek. That's close. Do you believe? Do you yearn for Christ to return for His church? Get up and get your testimony out there. You have nothing to fear. The One who put this entire universe together promised to give you the words to share.
Dave
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