Opportunities for testimony

TODAY'S SPECIAL: Luke 21:7-24

TO CHEW ON: "'But it will turn out for you as an occasion for testimony.'" Luke 2:13

As part of His grim prediction of the future, Jesus tells his disciples things will not go well with them. They will be persecuted and brought  before synagogue brass and jailers, kings and other secular rulers. But there is a bright ray in connection with this. Their inquisition will turn out as an occasion for testimony—the declaration of their personal experience with God.

Of course opportunities for testimony aren't limited to times of conflict with the spiritual-belief police.

• Some lepers in the Old Testament felt compelled to give the good news of the food they had discovered to those starving in the city. This reminds us that we must give our testimony of how we found the spiritual food of salvation to those starving spiritually - 2 Kings 7:9.

• The psalmist reminds us who have been "redeemed form the hand of the enemy" (Satan) to "say so" - Psalm 107:2.

• We testify to God's deeds and working in our lives - Isaiah 12:4.

• We testify with the unceasing alertness of watchmen on city walls - Isaiah 62:6.

• We testify at home - Mark 6:18, 19.

• We testify around the world - Acts 1:8.

• We testify to each other at church - Ephesians 5:19.

• We testify without embarrassment or shame - 2 Timothy 1:18.

• We're always ready to explain the reason for the hope that is in us - 1 Peter 3:15.

• But we shouldn't be overly concerned about what we're going to say, even when brought before the harshest judges. For in this passage Jesus reminds us: "'Therefore settle it in your hearts not to meditate beforehand on what you will answer, for I will give you a mouth and wisdom which all your adversaries will not be able to contradict or resist'" - Luke 21:14,15.

I wonder, what occasion for testimony will come our way today! Let's be alert and sensitive to promptings and opportunities to testify.

PRAYER: Dear Jesus, please help me to be alert to openings to speak of my experience with You, what You've done for me and Your love and forgiveness available to everyone who trusts You. Amen.

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New King James Version (NKJV) Used with permission. The Holy Bible, New King James Version Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.