Morning by Morning, March 30 - The Wrong Way to Defend the One We Love
Good morning, Lord Jesus. I look and listen, as I watch and wait for the leading of Your Spirit this morning. ...
Recent events, where an actor slapped a comedian on live television for insulting his wife, lead me to ponder what might be my actions and reactions in a moment like that. There’s room to defend the ones we love, there are ways to stand up and speak out for what is right, but the way we do it makes all the difference.
A story comes to mind when Simon Peter acted to defend the One he loved in the Garden of Gethsemane:
“After Jesus had spoken these words, He went out with His disciples across the Kidron valley to a place where there was a garden, which He and His disciples entered. Now Judas, who betrayed Him, also knew the place, because Jesus often met there with His disciples. So Judas brought a detachment of soldiers together with police from the chief priests and the Pharisees, and they came there with lanterns and torches and weapons. Then Jesus, knowing all that was to happen to Him, came forward and asked them, ‘Whom are you looking for?’ They answered, ‘Jesus of Nazareth.’ Jesus replied, ‘I am He.’ Judas, who betrayed Him, was standing with them. When Jesus said to them, ‘I am He,’ they stepped back and fell to the ground. Again He asked them, ‘Whom are you looking for?’ And they said, ‘Jesus of Nazareth.’ Jesus answered, ‘I told you that I am He. So if you are looking for Me, let these men go.’ This was to fulfill the word that He had spoken, ‘I did not lose a single one of those whom You gave Me.” Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it, struck the high priest’s slave, and cut off his right ear. The slave’s name was Malchus. Jesus said to Peter, ‘Put your sword back into its sheath. Am I not to drink the cup that the Father has given Me?’” (John 18:1-11).
Simon Peter was hurt and angry by what was happening to the One he loved. And he acted out with his hands what was rising up in his heart. But striking the man’s face with his sword wasn’t the way You had in mind for Your disciple to respond. You basically told him, “Not that way. The better way is to obey the will of God, no matter the cost.”
From Matthew’s account, You told Simon Peter, “Put your sword back into its place; for all who take the sword will perish by the sword. Do you think that I cannot appeal to My Father, and He will at once send Me more than twelve legions of angels? But how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled, which say it must happen in this way?” (Matthew 26:52-54).
In the confrontations of life, You call us to look to You as our example and to depend upon You as our Source of guidance and wisdom, courage and strength, humility and patience. And if we’re to respond well in the moment, we need to be abiding in You and You abiding in us by Your Spirit already (John 15:4).
We need to be in the place already where we’re listening for Your leading. “And when (we) turn to the right or when (we) turn to the left, (our) ears shall hear a word behind (us), saying, ‘This is the way; walk in it’” (Isaiah 30:21). “For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God” (Romans 8:14).
One of Your Words of Scripture that always helps me live out the balance of what to do and how to do it comes from the Prophet Micah:
“He has shown you, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God” (Micah 6:8 NKJV).
The only way we know when it’s time to “do justly” or when it’s time to “love mercy,” to know when it’s time to stand up and speak out or time to step back or take a knee, is to “walk humbly with (our) God.” In humility, we let You put Your thoughts in our mind, Your desires in our heart, Your words in our mouth, so that our ways reflect Your ways and our actions are not just reactions to the world but witnesses of the One who sends us into the world and abides within us in our hearts.
So keep me connected with You, Lord. For apart from You, I can do nothing (John 15:5). And in the words of the ancient proverb, “There, but for the grace of God, go I.” In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.
Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays
My friend, may you be constantly connected with the Lord, abiding in Him as He abides in you by His Spirit, so you can respond well in the confrontations of your life, in Jesus' name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friend!
Tommy Hays | Messiah Ministries
Messiah Ministries Mailing Address:
412 S. Adams Street #148
Fredericksburg, Texas 78624
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