Settled in Your Hearts - Luke 21:14

Luke the beloved physician shared how Jesus' disciples asked Him, “Master, but when shall these things be? and what sign will there be when these things shall come to pass? And he said, Take heed that you be not deceived: for many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and the time draws near: go you not therefore after them. But when you shall hear of wars and commotions, be not terrified: for these things must first come to pass; but the end is not by and by. Then said he unto them, Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven. But before all these, they shall lay their hands on you, and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues, and into prisons, being brought before kings and rulers for my name's sake. And it shall turn to you for a testimony”, and in chapter twenty-one and verse fourteen of his book Luke shared how Jesus said, “settle it therefore in your hearts” where we read:

Settle it therefore in your hearts, not to meditate before what you shall answer:

The verse reads, “Settle it therefore in your hearts, ...” Luke began with the words, “Settle it therefore” or “set, put, place and lay down then, wherefore and on this account” “in your hearts” which means “within your, Jesus' disciples', souls or minds as they are the fountain and seat of the thoughts, passions, desires, appetites, affections, purposes and endeavors”. Luke shared how Jesus told His “disciples” to “make it firm” in their hearts and decide in advance not to do the following.

The verse continues, “... not to meditate before what you shall answer:” Luke added the words, “not to meditate before” or “no and in no way to think about in advance” “what you shall answer” which means “how you will defend, make a defense, give an account of, calculate and consider well”. Luke shared how Jesus told His disciples not to think about in advance what they would “answer” when they were questioned by the authorities.

When we think through Luke's words in this verse, we learn how Jesus instructed His disciples to decide in advance that they would not “think about” what to say when they were questioned by the “Kings and rulers”. Jesus knew His disciples would face opposition for their faith and trust in Him, and when they were brought before the authorities, they were to give no thought as to what they would say. Jesus will say more about this in the next verse, but for now let it inspire us to know, He desires to have a personal relationship with every person, and those who are wise will understand He will be with them even when they stand before any authorities to whom they must give an account.

Next time Luke shares how Jesus says, “I will give you a mouth and wisdom”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".