SCRIPTURE: Luke 21:10-19
I’ve never been persecuted… but I’ve also kept a low profile as a christian.
Keep it quiet, don’t rock the boat, avoid drawing attention to myself.
Maybe I am not persecuted because my light is under a bowl – hidden.
But this also means I miss out on the Lord giving me the words to speak.
Maybe in order to experience this supernatural equipping, I need to step up and out first.
Maybe low-profile Christian living is also low-impact and low-benefit Christian living.
The Lord is prepared to use me BEYOND my natural abilities, if I step up to the plate.
But I can’t hit it out of the park, unless I step up to the plate.
Sure, keep it low-profile, and you avoid being hated, betrayed, arrested and persecuted.
But you also avoid receiving words and wisdom, and the experience of God’s Spirit at work through me.
Paul not only experienced prison, he also experienced God’s amazing rescue.
God wants to do the same for me – to use me to speak to the world.
No, I do not want to be persecuted, but I DO want to be used by God for good.
Am I willing to stand up, stand up for Jesus, no matter the consequences?
“Stand firm, and you will win life.” (Luke 21:19)
Will I trust Him to use me, speak through me, impact others through me, and give me eternal life?
What do you sense the Lord saying to you?
PRAYER
Lord, why am I embarrassed to speak for You? Why do I keep a low-profile as a christian? Help me to see how much I am missing out on. I want You to speak and work through me!
Jesus follower
trying to find His way
Observation/Application
Certainly the words spoken here are happening today – the various great signs – all speaking of God’s power and mighty and man’s fallen state – going his own way after the desires of his heart making the earth not a Valley of Slaughter but regions of slaughter. And amid all this there are God’s people being persecuted – standing up for Jesus receiving the crown of Life.
And I?
I am lik the candle story of Max Lucado – not letting my light shine. I too need to stand up and God will give the words to speak.
Lead me. Guide me. Fill me with Your Spirit Lord that I am truly and instrument of Your peace.
1. Make me a channel of your peace:
Where there is hatred, let me bring you love;
Where there is injury, your healing pow’r,
And where there’s doubt, true faith in you.
2. Make me a channel of your peace:
Where there’s despair in life let me bring hope;
Where there is darkness, – only light,
And where there’s sadness, ever joy.
3. O Spirit, grant that I may never seek
So much to be consolded as to console,
To be understood as to understand,
To be loved as to love with all my soul – .
4. Make me a channel of your peace.
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
In giving to all that we receive,
And in dying that we’re born to eternal life.