Guidance #3— Guided Defense

They will lay their hands on you and will persecute you … This will lead to an opportunity for your testimony. So make up your minds not to prepare beforehand to defend yourselves; for I will give you utterance and wisdom which none of your opponents will be able to resist or refute. Luke 21:12–15

Jesus thought this promise so important, he gave it to us twice, here and in Luke 12:12–13. It is important we rely on him in such situations, because we are speaking on his behalf not our own. Surely the one who engineered the incarnation, crucifixion, and resurrection will know best how to articulate the truth of these events. And he will know what will be most persuasive to the hearts and minds of those who question us. Trusting him for this seems risky and contradicts much of what we have been taught about how to survive in difficult situations. But it is clear from this promise that he will be with us. And it is clear that how we act in this situation is important to him, for his reputation is on the line. The testimony we give will simply be some expression of our experience of his grace. While we shouldn’t rehearse this testimony, we should maintain our commitment to him, so that we have experiences of his grace to recall and certainty of the hope that awaits us in Heaven, which we heard about in the Gospel.

Thank you, Jesus, for opportunities like this in which I can experience anew the treasure of wisdom and knowledge you are for me.