Reading: Luke 21-22
But before all these, they shall lay their hands on you, and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues, and into prisons, being brought before kings and rulers for My name’s sake. And it shall turn to you for a testimony. Settle it therefore in your hearts, not to meditate before what ye shall answer: For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist. And ye shall be betrayed both by parents, and brethren, and kinsfolks, and friends; and some of you shall they cause to be put to death. And ye shall be hated of all men for My name’s sake. But there shall not an hair of your head perish. In your patience possess ye your souls (Luke 21:12-19).
Today’s reading contains some of the most joyful and heartwarming verses in the Gospel of Christ. It also contains some of the most disheartening. First, the good news: But there shall not an hair of your head perish. In your patience possess ye your souls. As members of the body of Christ, we are promised eternal life. For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life (John 3:16). He has saved us, and there is nothing that Satan or the world can do to change that. And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of My hand (10:28). But unfortunately, the fact that they will never succeed will not stop them from trying.
Which brings us to the bad news. While we must tirelessly work to reach as many individuals as possible, the world as a whole is lost and cannot be saved. No matter what we do or say, what witness we provide, how fervently we promote the Gospel, or how diligent we are in pursuing Godly rule, the evil that has infiltrated the civilizations of mankind has taken root and is here to stay until forcibly removed by Christ when He returns. And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming (II Thess. 2:8). That evil will take many forms. Some will be easily recognizable adversaries. Others will be our parents, and brethren, and kinsfolks, and friends. Whatever the form, the goal is the same. They seek to turn us from God. Failing that, they will work to silence us, discredit our witness, and pervert God’s truth. For as long as we live on this earth, we will be forced to fight to keep the beacon of God’s Word lit and tended.
Back to the good news. God will never leave us to fight the battle alone. He will never leave our side, no matter how long or involved the skirmish. If we keep our focus on Him, then He will give you (us) a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist. God will never let our struggle be in vain or our testimony be irrelevant. So shall My word be that goeth forth out of My mouth: it shall not return unto Me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it (Is. 55:11). Trust Him. Cling to Him. Live for Him. God will take care of the rest.
For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord’s(Rom. 14:8).
Thought for Today: We do not battle against the world, for that is a battle God has already won; Our fight is against the weakness of our own hearts.
Cross Reference:For Luke 21:27: See Dan. 7:13. Luke 22:37: See Is. 53:12. Luke 22:69: See Ps. 110:1.
Word Studies:21:4 penury = poverty; 21:13 shall turn to you for a testimony = will turn out to be an opportunity to tell the Good News; 21:15 to gainsay = to refute, to refuse; 21:34 surfeiting = over-indulgence; 22:39 wont = in the habit of.
Pray for Government Officials:Rep. Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ) • Country: Gambia (1,925,527) West Africa • Major Languages: English, Mandinka • Restricted Religious Freedom • 90% Muslim; 8% Christian; 2% Indigenous Beliefs • Prayer Suggestion: Ask the Lord for wisdom and discernment (Prov. 2:1-6).