These are dark days we live in where the persecution of Christianity is not only widely accepted, but praised. Our faith is under open attack. There are those around us who would have our freedom to speak the truth of the Gospel taken away. And, in many cases, it is becoming increasingly difficult to declare truth without having someone try to shut us down.

Why are so many Christians surprised by this? Who told them that a life of following Jesus was supposed to be the easy one? Jesus himself warned us of this very thing.

But beware! For you will be handed over to the courts and beaten in the synagogues. And you must stand trial before governors and kings because you are my followers. This will be your opportunity to tell them about me—yes, to witness to the world.

Matthew 10:17-18 (NLT)

Church, this is our opportunity. This is not the time to back down or to muddle the truth so much that it is no longer truth at all. This is the time to stand up—no matter what the consequence—and declare Jesus! When the words of mere men may fail us, the Word of the Lord stands forever.

When you are arrested, don’t worry about what to say in your defense, because you will be given the right words at the right time. For it won’t be you doing the talking—it will be the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.

Matthew 10:19-20 (NLT)

Good Christian men (and women), rejoice! We don’t have to come up with any of the arguments. Jesus has promised that, should we have to defend Him, the Spirit will give us the words to say. So let’s stop trying to win an impossible argument with our own words. Instead, lean on the Spirit of Truth to witness to the world.

Daily Bible reading: Genesis 29-30, Matthew 10:1-23