“Whenever you are arrested and brought to trial, do not worry
beforehand about what to say. Just say whatever is given you at the time, for
it is not you speaking, but the Holy Spirit.”
Mark 13:11
When Jesus spoke
these words to a few of his disciples was He discouraging study of Gods’ Word?
Was the message to
them that they need never be prepared?
No, of course not!
There are plenty of
scriptures that speak of preparation of the heart and mind with the Word of
God.
Rather, He was
encouraging them that they need not worry
about what to say in moments they are called upon to defend themselves but learn to trust and rely on the work of
the Holy Spirit in their lives.
We can over prepare,
we can under prepare or, like Goldilocks in the story of the three bears, we
can prepare ‘just right’.
But the success does
not come from our skills in preparing, rather it comes through our surrendered obedience
to the Lord.
Look at the Prophets
in the Old Testament.
Before they spoke the
Word of the Lord we do not find them pouring over the law to prepare a reasoned
response.
They were in God’s
presence and He spoke to them.
They delivered what
He gave them to speak.
To be sure it
required faith and courage to deliver that word but to imply that the Old
Testament Prophets were astute theologians who spoke from their vast wisdom of
the Law would just not be accurate.
They did, however,
cultivate a relationship with God that allowed them to hear His voice and
deliver His message.
Jesus’ words to His
disciples emphasized that truth as well.
“…say whatever is given you…”
The ‘giver’ of those
words remains in you!
Listen for His voice.
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