In Luke 21:12-19, this passage of Scripture refers to persecution.

Jesus certainly states it plainly of an occurrence that is to be expected

by those who stay true to His name. Of all the events that were sure

to take place, among the signs in these events would be a trying of

faith far beyond what anyone would experience at the time that He

stated this. So He knew that before all the catastrophic fate in these

end time events, there would be horrendous persecution for those

who would stand true to Him on account of His authority in obedience

to His Word. There would even be those who would be imprisoned

and put to death for believing in Jesus and accepting what God

has done through Him. That very time would be a definite fact of

not only the proof of being recognized as following Jesus in His

suffering, but also a result that would bear testimony to the truth

of what Jesus has done and victory may be obtained in the better

life, eternal life, should one’s life be taken here below.

So, with all the betrayal of those close to one who stands on the

promises of Jesus, and being despised for the identifcation of one’s

life in fellowship with what God gave in His Son to give us a better

hope to come, it is required of one in the commitment of true faith

to rely on the Holy Spirit to give the utterance with words of wisdom

that cannot be counteracted with the world’s refutations.

Therefore, as we take a strong adherence to the words of Jesus in

Luke 21:14, “Settle it therefore in your hearts, not to meditate before

what ye shall answer:” (KJV) In this verse, we should first of all take a look

at the word “settle”. The Greek word “tithemi”, as this prolonged form of

a word to mean “to place”, would suggest a passive or horizontal posture,

so one would take this further to understand what Jesus meant to act

upon it in one’s mind as restful to resolve that one need not to take care

before hand, or in other words premeditatie what to anwer, speak, or

say to defend oneself. For as the next few verses state, the implication

is clear that no part of one’s life will be lost for “By standing firm you will

gain life.” (Luke 21:19 NIV)

Eternal life is therefore the aim one should take in recognizing that it is

through Jesus Christ, the Lord and Savior, Who gives His Spirit in order

to say what is needed in the time awaiting. LaNora G. Means

My Most Recent Sermon