When not to prepare

I’ve read the book of Luke many times but something really stuck out to me this week in my daily reading. It’s where Jesus is talking about signs of the end of the age. He speaks of earthquakes, famines and plagues and terrifying sights. But before all this “they will lay their hands on you and persecute you. They will hand you over to the synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors because of my name.” 

Ugh! Not cool. I don’t like how where this is going.

But the very next statement says, “This will give you an opportunity to bear witness.” 

All that bad stuff listed will lead up to a great opportunity to share the Good News of Jesus Christ. It’s hard for me to relate to words about persecution because I don’t face it. But I read a lot about it through the Voice of the Martyrs. And I hear how our Christian brothers and sisters are boldly proclaiming the Gospel as they are chained and put in prison. I admire them and I pray for them. And honestly, sometimes I get scared at the thought that my children or grandchildren may face the same kind of persecution one day.

But knowing that persecution gives an opportunity to share the Gospel helps me see purpose in persecution. A redeemable element at the very least. So when I think about persecution prompted opportunities my mind immediately goes to being extra super well prepared. Like a sock it to ‘em sermon, because it’s the opportunity that Jesus is talking about to defend our faith. We gotta be prepared. Maybe even over-prepared since I’m an all or nothing kind of girl. I’m either totally and completely unprepared or overprepared. Nothing in between. This is one of those times we’d probably want to be overprepared.

But surprisingly we aren’t supposed to prepare for this at all because listen to Jesus’s words in Luke 21:14 & 15.

“Therefore make up your minds not to prepare your defense ahead of time, for I will give you such words and a wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict.” 

The fact that he says “make up your minds not to….” makes me wonder if he knew they/we’d fight the urge to form and gather our words just so. Putting pressure and weight on ourselves to defend the faith in our strength which is impossible to do and be effective.

I got so excited when I read those verses because it just complimented the other places in Luke where Jesus tells his disciples not to worry because he’ll give them the words to say. Other times he tells them what to say before they even had to say it. Jesus prepares us and equips us with his words at the right time. I think the key here is to not over prepare and stress over words. Because we do see in other places in scripture where we’re told to be ready to give an answer for the hope that lies within us. So there’s a basic level of preparedness that we as followers and disciples of Christ should have but we don’t need to dwell and worry about opportunities to share Christ or defend our faith. He will give us those words at the right time.

A perfect modern-day example of this is a clip that my pastor hubs showed this past Sunday night. It’s of Coach Dabo Swinney when he was asked about his faith. You can watch it for yourself but you’ll see how he was taken back a bit at the question itself. He didn’t appear prepared for that question but what came out of his mouth was an overflow of his relationship with Christ and I believe the Holy Spirit gave him those words at that moment and not beforehand. And it was so awesome to watch! And ya’ll, for my Georgia Bulldog lovin’ man to show this clip with such excitement was a miracle in itself. 

So friends, let’s trust that God will give us the words to speak when we are given an opportunity to defend our faith.