ESOCS Devotional 23 November 2023 – Let Not Your Heart Be Troubled
MEMORY VERSE: ““Then said He unto them, nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.” Luke 21:10 KJV
TEXT: LUKE 21:10-19 (KJV)
Then said he unto them, Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom:
11 And great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven.
12 But before all these, they shall lay their hands on you, and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues, and into prisons, being brought before kings and rulers for my name’s sake.
13 And it shall turn to you for a testimony.
14 Settle it therefore in your hearts, not to meditate before what ye shall answer:
15 For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist.
16 And ye shall be betrayed both by parents, and brethren, and kinsfolks, and friends; and some of you shall they cause to be put to death.
17 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake.
18 But there shall not an hair of your head perish.
19 In your patience possess ye your souls.
Read Yesterday’s ESOCS Devotional here
In our text, Jesus spoke of persecutions in their varying degrees that will befall His followers. Soon after He spoke about it, it began. In fact, Luke recorded many of them in the book of Acts. The early church suffered as well as the Apostles, notable among them was Paul who wrote from prison. But the church thrived despite intense persecution, and the Apostles survived despite been incarcerated. In the same vein, Jesus warned that in the coming persecution, His followers would be betrayed by their family members and friends. The truth is that Christians of every age have had to face this possibility.
The greatest lessons from this are that both the church and believers are not exempted from the persecution that will come. But the assurance is as captured by our topic- let not your heart be troubled! The same way the early church thrived in the dace if persecution, the church now and in future will also thrive. Opposition will even help spread the word of God. As for the believers, it is reassuring that even when we feel abandoned that the Holy Spirit comforts us. Also, none of them would suffer spiritual or eternal loss. The persecution will become a testimony [verse 13].
Is persecution not with us here already? Are we not seeing the signs of the end time? What does it tell us? We must stand strong in the Lord. The lyrics of our C & S hymn number 80, stanza 1, in part says: “Be ye strong in the Lord and in the power of His might, firmly standing, for the truth of His word…” Brethren, let not your heart be troubled, be strong in the Lord.
FURTHER READING: Matthew 24: 4-13; Mark 13:5-13
ESOCS Devotional 23 November 2023
