Stand Firm

 

 Luke 21: 12-19 

What To Expect

¹² “But before all this, they will seize you and persecute you. They will hand you over to synagogues and put you in prison, and you will be brought before kings and governors, and all on account of my name. ¹³ And so you will bear testimony to me. ¹⁴ But make up your mind not to worry beforehand how you will defend yourselves. ¹⁵ For I will give you words and wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict. ¹⁶ You will be betrayed even by parents, brothers and sisters, relatives and friends, and they will put some of you to death. ¹⁷ Everyone will hate you because of me. ¹⁸ But not a hair of your head will perish. ¹⁹ Stand firm, and you will win life.

Not a pretty picture: persecutions, prisons, betrayals, hatred, death. Yet Jesus advises us to remain as tranquil as the calm lake pictured above. Yes, the bare tree seems to represent the agony of being singled out and stripped of all, as are persecuted Christians, yet they stand fast and in the end receive LIFE! It's been going on for centuries, from the time of the Apostles even till now. Nevertheless, we need to stand firm in our little annoyances, or in major tests. Jesus makes it clear, there will be suffering, but in the end, victory. Christians have lived this pattern for 2000 years, so can we.

Bro. Rene

Dear God, help me to remain firm in my faith despite ridicule or persecution. Amen.