No Premeditated Responses

Mark 13:9-11

I spend a lot of time in my head. Sometimes this is a good thing, and other times it is not. I think about situations and possible outcomes. I then consider responses to those outcomes. Sometimes I have entire conversations with others in my head. This is not fair to that individual, especially when those conversations are about a conflict, because I predetermine an outcome without affording them the opportunity to say anything.

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But take heed to yourselves: for they shall deliver you up to councils; and in the synagogues ye shall be beaten: and ye shall be brought before rulers and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them. 10 And the gospel must first be published among all nations. 11 But when they shall lead you, and deliver you up, take no thought beforehand what ye shall speak, neither do ye premeditate: but whatsoever shall be given you in that hour, that speak ye: for it is not ye that speak, but the Holy Ghost.

Mark 13:9-11

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In this text, Jesus tells us not to do then when it comes to being persecuted. He tells us, "take no thought before hand what ye shall speak, neither do ye premeditate". Do not prepare a defense. Do not plan a speech. Don't even plan a sermon you plan to preach at your trial. Jesus tells His disciples, and us, that we are to rely on the leading of the Holy Spirit during that time. We are literally to empty ourselves of self and become a conduit of what the Spirit would say to our persecutors.

Can you imagine? Perhaps you don't have to imagine. Maybe you have been there. For me, this flies in the face of my natural response. I tend to be very defensive and say way too much. This is not good and it is the opposite of how Jesus said we are to respond when persecuted. This is where sanctification is so very important for Christians.

One reason why we should self aside when we are on trial for being a Christian is because we have nothing to lose and our persecutors have everything to lose. If we are set free, we have our freedom back. If we are imprisoned, we have a new mission field within the prison. If we are killed, we gain Heaven and the privilege of being in the presence of God. Our persecutors however, because they are the enemies of God, are on their way to Hell. So, we set self aside for God to use us to proclaim his message of Salvation to them. In that case, it is not a prescribed message we have prepared, but a message that God himself delivers directly to their hearts; just as with Paul and Stephen.

Father, help me to set aside my will for yours. May I be a conduit and not a commentator. I pray your spirit speaks through me the message that those around me need to hear. You know infinitely better than I of what that is. If I face persecution, my I stand firm and may I be silent while you speak through me.