Be Ready For Anything

Be Ready for Anything

Matthew 10:16-20, NLT

Look, I am sending you out as sheep among wolves. So be as shrewd as snakes and harmless as doves. 17But beware! For you will be handed over to the courts and will be flogged with whips in the synagogues. 18You will stand trial before governors and kings because you are my followers. But this will be your opportunity to tell the rulers and other unbelievers about me. 19When you are arrested, don’t worry about how to respond or what to say. God will give you the right words at the right time. 20For it is not you who will be speaking—it will be the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.

Setting the Scene

The key instruction in this passage is “beware!” Battles lay ahead, and the apostles needed to be prepared—shrewd, harmless, and ready for anything. They would need to be unafraid of conflict but also able to deal with it with integrity. Jesus warned them that the gospel would not be warmly welcomed in all places. At times the disciples would face outright antagonism. This would be more than mere differences of opinion or unfriendly families and communities. The opposition would come from religious and civil authorities. The apostles would be arrested and could face harsh punishment simply for believing in Jesus and telling others about him. But these persecutions would provide opportunities for presenting the gospel. Later, the disciples did experience these hardships (Acts 5:40; 12:1-3; 22:19; 2 Corinthians 11:24). Interestingly, the word martyr comes from the Greek word for witness or testimony.

Jesus said, “Don’t worry about how to respond or what to say.” Some mistakenly think this means believers do not have to prepare to present the gospel because God will take care of everything. The Bible says, however, that we are to make carefully prepared, thoughtful statements (Colossians 4:6). Later one of these commissioned men, Peter, would write, “If someone asks about your Christian hope, always be ready to explain it” (1 Peter 3:15, NLT). Jesus was telling his followers to prepare but not to worry. He promised special inspiration for times of great need.

Getting Personal

When have you encountered opposition for your Christian beliefs?

How have you seen God work in and through you, giving you the right words to say?

Jesus warned the apostles to focus on their mission and turn their defense into a testimony of faith. Such a serious warning would make most people think twice about going! No one welcomes aggressive opposition and physical threats. But we should assume that as we live for Christ and tell others about him, we will face persecution. At those times, we can thank God for the opportunities and remember that Christ has “overcome the world” (John 16:33, NLT).

Talking to God

Express your willingness—or confess your unwillingness—to suffer misunderstanding or outright persecution for the Lord’s sake. Ask him for courage to face those difficult times, and thank him in advance for giving you the right words to say and actions to take.