Prayer
Before you read, I invite you to pray this prayer based on Psalm 119:98
LORD, may Your commands always be on my mind,
making me wiser than those who oppose Your work.
Amen.
Briefly prepare your heart in silence, and ask the Holy Spirit to awaken your awareness to the voice of God, coming to you through His Word.
Reading
Still speaking to His apostles on the eve of their mission, Jesus presses in even deeper to the reality of fear’s power to control us. This time, He focuses specifically on its power to silence our witness.
Surely, every disciple of Jesus experiences the debilitating temptation to remain silent when we know we should speak up. We seem amazingly adept at finding “good” or “wise” reasons to remain silent when actually, deep down, we are convicted by the Holy Spirit to speak up!
It may be a case of speaking up for those who cannot speak for themselves. It may be taking a Christ-centred, Biblically faithful stand over some topical issue. It may be speaking up for Jesus in the presence of those we know will mock us or reject us. Whatever situation causes us to feel the temptation to be silent for fear of others’ reactions, we need to hear Jesus’ command to us again today:
27 What I tell you in the dark, speak in the daylight; what is whispered in your ear, proclaim from the roofs. 28 Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul.
And then, to empower us to stand strong, Jesus reassures us that whatever or whomever we may fear, they are no match for our Heavenly Father who loves us, provides for us and is always with us! He says,
“And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid.” (v.30-31)
As William Barclay puts it in his commentary on verse 31,
The courage of the King’s messenger is founded on the conviction that, whatever happens, he cannot drift beyond the love of God. He knows that his times are for ever in God’s hands; that God will not leave him or forsake him; that he is surrounded for ever by God’s care. If that is so–of whom then shall we be afraid?
Disciples are called to speak on Jesus’ behalf. We are called to tell others the Good News of Jesus’ saving grace, to encourage the weak, comfort the distressed, stand up for the oppressed and, at times, even to confront evil. In the Name of Jesus, let us not be silent!
Contemplation
Please take time to ponder what Jesus has commanded us. Turn these declarations over in your mind. Keep them in mind throughout the day and live in step with Your King, Jesus.
As a disciple of Jesus Christ:
- I will not remain silent to appease those whom I fear;
- I will speak up to bring pleasure to the Father who loves me and is always with me.
Loving Heavenly Father, I trust in You! Please empower me to live boldly and to be an outspoken witness for Your Son Jesus Christ my Lord. Amen.
P.S. For those burdened to pray for Iran, here is a more recently updated set of prayer requests from Iranian believers themselves.
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