January 10 - Little boy, put that sword down & go wash your hands

Wash Your Hands, or Die: Exodus 30:11-31:18

Scotch Ear: Matthew 26:47-68

No Mule Thinkin’ Allowed: Psalm 32:1-11

Wisdom Was There at the Foundation: Proverbs 8:27-32

There have been a lot of religious wars over the centuries. But what did Jesus say about religious fighting? He said that “all who draw the sword will die by the sword”.

I’m sure when Peter chopped off the guard’s ear he thought that he had done a good thing to fight for Jesus’ safety. But Jesus not only taught that living by the sword leads to dying by the sword, Jesus also healed the guard’s ear.

This act was both an act of love by Jesus and also a way of backing up His teaching. I’m sure the teaching sunk into the observers minds a lot deeper when Jesus miraculously undid the results of Peter’s attack.

We don’t have to physically fight for Jesus. He’s got an angelic army He can call on at anytime. However, He does expect us to spiritually fight for Him. There are many people in this world who are zealous in their animosity towards Christians. They carried out horrible attacks on Christians in other parts of the world. Don’t be surprised if they’re one day doing the same thing in the good ol’ U.S. of A. We have to fight them not with might but with the Word, with prayer, and with LILYMI. It’s a spiritual war we’re fighting. Without knowing it, they’re not a warrior in the battle, they’re the prize both sides are fighting over.

By the way, I'm sorry I forgot to post this until today. I'm just a slacker. :)