Matthew 10: 16-23
Jesus said to his Apostles:
“Behold, I am sending you like sheep in the midst of wolves;
so be shrewd as serpents and simple as doves.
But beware of men,
for they will hand you over to courts
and scourge you in their synagogues,
and you will be led before governors and kings for my sake
as a witness before them and the pagans.
When they hand you over,
do not worry about how you are to speak
or what you are to say.
You will be given at that moment what you are to say.
For it will not be you who speak
but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.
Brother will hand over brother to death,
and the father his child;
children will rise up against parents and have them put to death.
You will be hated by all because of my name,
but whoever endures to the end will be saved.
When they persecute you in one town, flee to another.
Amen, I say to you, you will not finish the towns of Israel
before the Son of Man comes.”
“Behold, I am sending you like sheep in the midst of wolves;
so be shrewd as serpents and simple as doves.
But beware of men,
for they will hand you over to courts
and scourge you in their synagogues,
and you will be led before governors and kings for my sake
as a witness before them and the pagans.
When they hand you over,
do not worry about how you are to speak
or what you are to say.
You will be given at that moment what you are to say.
For it will not be you who speak
but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.
Brother will hand over brother to death,
and the father his child;
children will rise up against parents and have them put to death.
You will be hated by all because of my name,
but whoever endures to the end will be saved.
When they persecute you in one town, flee to another.
Amen, I say to you, you will not finish the towns of Israel
before the Son of Man comes.”
Those who
preach the truth of God will be hated by those who dwell in darkness. We will
be persecuted and despised among our brothers. We will be attacked and
discredited. The evil one does not want the truth to be known. He does not want
people to see the light of God’s love for them.
Although I may
be persecuted in this world for standing up in my faith God will not forget.
When he delivers his justice I shall have mercy for I will have stayed true to
my faith in the face of the evil of men. He will provide for me at the
appropriate time. He will fill my mouth with the right words. What do I have to
fear in this life except losing my faith? This world has no claim on my soul.
Into your hands Lord I commend my spirit. Thy will be done. Let me be an
instrument of your love and a lantern to carry your light to all those in
darkness.
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