Resist Using Your Sword Until You Know What God Wants

Matthew 26:50-54; John 18:10,11

Difficult situations can cause anger and fear to make us do things we shouldn't

Soul Food

Matthew 26:50-54 (NIV)

“Then the men stepped forward, seized Jesus, and arrested Him. At this, one of Jesus’ companions drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear.

‘Put your sword back in its place,’ Jesus said to him. ‘For all who draw the sword will die by the sword. Are you not aware that I can call on My Father, and He will at once put at My disposal more than twelve legions of angels? But how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen this way?’”

John 18:10,11 (NIV)

“Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it and struck the high priest’s servant, cutting off his right ear. (The servant’s name was Malchus.)

Jesus commanded Peter, ‘Put your sword away! Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given me?’”

Soul Search

• Can you think of situations or experiences you have had that were quite stressful and caused you to be defensive and even scared?
  Can you talk about the situation/experience?

• As you reflect on those situations, can you remember how you reacted?
  What form(s) did your response take?

• If your reaction/response was calm and restrained, do you know why?
  If your reaction/response was angry and defensive, do you know why?

• Do you have some idea what your response would be today if you are confronted with stressful, scary situations?
  What would others who know you predict your response would be?

Soul Moves

• Ask God for His help to calm you in the moment of a stressful or scary situation.
  Ask Him for that help to keep you calm and at peace in the moments following a difficult and stressful situation.

• Recognize that God’s peace and calm in otherwise difficult situations will help you to make good, sound, godly decisions before you make bad ones.

• Be open to, and listening to, the Holy Spirit so that you don’t read and interpret bad situations on your own and then make ‘knee-jerk’ reactions.

• What are the “swords” you pull out in difficult situations?
  Ask God to help you keep your sword(s) of choice in its sheath as long as you need to.