June 22: The Sword

And suddenly, one of those who were with Jesus stretched out his hand and drew his sword, struck the servant of the high priest, and cut off his ear. But Jesus said to him, “Put your sword in its place, for all who take the sword will perish by the sword.” Matthew 26:52

This event is also recorded by John, who named the sword-wielder. It was our beloved Peter! The words of Jesus to Peter have been paraphrased thus: He who lives by the sword will die by the sword (and similarly in Revelation 13:10).

Let us now turn, and consider our claim to live by the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God (Ephesians 6:17). If we are truly living by His word, then must we not also die by it? Paul said:

I die daily. 1 Corinthians 15:31b

God’s word has a conquering power to drive out all of those things that have no place in my thinking, my affections, my appetite, and the direction I pursue. If I identify as a child of the King, then I must allow what He says to shape and guide my responses to the ongoing barrage of tests with which I am confronted. These tests come in the form of confrontations to that word from heaven in the fallen systems of this world. Also, our own patterns of thinking and behavior are confronted by the word itself. If His word does not have an ongoing, molding effect in all areas of my life, then He is not reigning as King over me.

He must increase, but I must decrease. John 3:30

It is the word of God and how I respond to it that determines my connection with Jesus. I must allow the Sword to “cut” me, and shape me, and mold me into His image, His original intention for all of us from the very beginning. His word has the power to transform me, if I allow; and it also brings revelation as to whether or not my relationship with Him is genuine.

The words of Jesus to “Put your sword in its place” are a practical reminder of the daily need to allow His word to kill in me whatever has no place in His kingdom. The woman who was telling the truth in King Solomon’s story of the two women who both claimed the living child, spoke up at the risk of harm to herself rather than allow the child to be hurt. King Solomon had said, “Bring me a sword.” The discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart revealed the hearts of both women; the true and the false. The reward of the true woman—for she has the Son!—signifies our reward to come, if we are willingly living and dying by the word of the Lord.

But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Matthew 6:33