Scripture
“But this will be your opportunity to tell them about me.”
Luke 21:13 NLT
Observation
Jesus is speaking to his disciples things that would happen in the future:
- Someone would pretend to be the Messiah.
- We will hear of wars and insurrections.
- Nation going to war against nation, kingdom agains kingdom
- There will be earthquakes, famine and plagues.
- There will be terrifying things and great miraculous signs from heavens
But before all these there would be a time of a great persecution to the church.
We cannot affirm that this great persecution already occur in the disciples time when the Christians of the early church got scattered due the persecution, or if there will be an even greater persecution happening before the end of time to the church of today. But one lesson that I learn here is that persecution is a opportunity to tell people about Jesus.
Application
When persecution came to the early church the gospel spread out to so many places where Christ wasn’t known.
But it is hard to imagine that any short of persecution could come together with an opportunity to tell other about Jesus.
Jesus teaches us that nothing can shut us down. That even in the hardest times we face, there is always an opportunity to speak about him, to praise and glorify God.
So, when problems comes, when we are hunted down because our believes, our values and our faith in Jesus, do not shut down yourself. Do not think that you need to take a defensive position. Be bold and use the opportunity to do what Jesus told us: “tell them about me.”
Prayer
Jesus, let us use every opportunity to show your love to others, and to talk about you: who you are, what you’ve done for us, and the hope you bring us. Help us to don’t be shy but to speak up, whenever we see an opportunity. In your name, I pray.
