Matthew 26:52 “‘Put your sword back in its place,’ Jesus said to him, ‘for all who draw the sword will die by the sword.’” (NIV)
This is one of those Scriptures I can speed read: Peter reacted badly – Jesus was all about peace. Then the Lord posed a question to me – “If I were Peter, what would I have done?” That was easy – whack off the other ear! I did not say that, did I? My flesh said yes, but the Holy Spirit within me said no. God continued to God continued to work this verse in my heart until He gave me four teachings: 1) God has a higher purpose. 2) What goes around, comes around. 3) Fighting self. 4) Allowing God.
My flesh screams for justice when I encounter injustice. Jesus’ instructions to Peter revealed a higher calling for followers of Christ when we experience difficult times. Paul puts my most severe hardship in perspective when he wrote in 2 Corinthians 6:4-5, 8-10a, “In great endurance; in troubles, hardships and distresses; in beatings, imprisonments and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights and hunger; through glory and dishonor, bad report and good report; genuine, yet regarded as impostors; known, yet regarded as unknown; dying, and yet we live on; beaten, and yet not killed; sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor.” (NIV) I would like to say the persecutions I undergo for proclaiming Christ and righteousness comes close to Paul’s, but not in the slightest. Paul was consumed with the higher purpose Jesus described in John 4:34, “‘My food,’ said Jesus, ‘is to do the will of Him who sent Me and to finish His work.’” (NIV) When the soldiers came to arrest Jesus, He did not see the traitor, those to whom He ministered, how much more He had to do, and how great He had been on earth. Jesus had purposed in His heart to do the will of God. In the same
Let us embrace God’s calling and purpose in our hearts to do His will and not our own.
Matthew 5:39-41 “But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles.” (NIV)
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