“Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. Beware of men, for they will deliver you over to courts and flog you in their synagogues, and you will be dragged before governors and kings for my sake, to bear witness before them and the Gentiles. When they deliver you over, do not be anxious how you are to speak or what you are to say, for what you are to say will be given to you in that hour. For it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.

I have very limited experience of being flogged in church, or drug before governors and kings for my LORD's sake, actually none at all. But the equivalent exists when I have to face the derision of family and acquaintances. Those who worship at the feet of Carl Sagan scorn any statement that begins with, “The Bible says...”

This is a trust issue. Do I really, truly trust that the Holy Spirit will speak through me in those instances. No, I don't! I start temporizing and trying to change the subject. Isn't this a form of denying Him? Is Matthew 10:32-33 “So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven, but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven.” burned into my heart?

Forgive me, Lord Jesus, for being the coward that I am. Continue to lead me in the way I should go.

Today's readings in the Psalms:

Morning: Psalm 20

Mid-day: 119:121-128

Evening: Psalm 95

Please address comments to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

"Voices Together" is available as an annual daily devotional and can be purchased at theFellowship Of Ailbe bookstore.  A weekly edition, formatted as a bi-fold insert and suitable for distribution can be downloaded at https://www.ailbe.org/resources/itemlist/category/52-general-downloads. The next edition is available by Thursday of the prior week.