S138P4 – To suffer gladly: God will move
Mk. 13:9-13
But be on your guard. For they will deliver you over to councils, and you will be beaten in synagogues, and you will stand before governors and kings for my sake, to bear witness before them. And the gospel must first be proclaimed to all nations. And when they bring you to trial and deliver you over, do not be anxious beforehand what you are to say, but say whatever is given you in that hour, for it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit. And brother will deliver brother over to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death. And you will be hated by all for my name’s sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.
Living the life of Christian service has two sides to it. First is the idea of Christian living. We are given examples and instruction on what it looks like to live as followers of Christ. We are taught how to handle temptation, persecution, rejection and a whole host of other difficulties of life. We also are told of the joy and peace available to us in Christ. Second is the practical application. It is one thing to hear how this life should be lived, but it is another thing to live it out. Particularly when it comes to persecution and suffering on account of our faith, the picture and the reality can be much different. We might want desperately to share in Christ’s sufferings until that suffering actually comes and leaves us not knowing how to apply what we have been taught.
Jesus predicted some pretty drastic times ahead for his followers. The picture might look grim, but the words of Christ here are important for a specific reason. When He tells his followers not to worry about what they will say in response to what likely will be accusations of wrongdoing, He is telling them that God is ready for what they will endure. God already knows that they will be tempted to worry about what they should say, but He is not worried. He already has prepared the words He wants to come from their lips. They might worry about what they should say, but they will not be the ones speaking. The Spirit of God will speak the words to defend him. He will speak the truth necessary to combat the lies and hatred that will come from their persecutors.
Our emotional response to what we must endure for the Lord is our choice. We can be nervous and worried. We can choose to be fearful of the unknown. On the other hand, we can believe with confidence that He already has prepared the way. We can be excited to see how He will move on that day for us. These words from Jesus should convince us not to fear our times of trial but to look forward to them because they will open the door for God to move in mighty ways. They are an opportunity for him to show how great He is through us. Father, help us to look forward to the trials ahead, that we would await with anticipation the ways in which You will move for us and in us.