Luke 11:53–54 (ESV)
Woe to the Pharisees and the Lawyers (Part 4)
53 As he went away from there, the scribes and the Pharisees began to press him hard and to provoke him to speak about many things, 54 lying in wait for him, to catch him in something he might say.
Today is Sunday, and we wrap up this section with a small portion, but it says a lot. The reading says that Jesus went away, but the scribes and the Pharisees began to "press him hard and to provoke him to speak about many things."
When people are out to get you, they are always watching you and will you anything you do against you. If they wanted you to do something a particular way and you do it, they then complain that you did it this way and not the other. Some people
will even try to trap you or set you up to make you look bad. As a Christian, there are a lot of people who are out to destroy you. We need to expect this... look at what they did to Jesus. The fabricated lies and nailed him to a cross.
We shouldn’t expect to much different treatment. Today’s reading says they were People are always watching us and we need to expect harsh treatment. Our response, simply smile back at them
and share the love of Jesus.
I pray: O Lord, help me to always keep my eyes focused on you and not fall prey to those who want to hinder Christianity. Help me to pray for those who even get in
my way to share the Gospel. Thank you for your forgiveness and restoration. Amen.