The Duck and The Sword

Reading: Jeremiah 1-2 and Acts 18

Scripture: Acts 18:6, And when they opposed and reviled him, he shook out his garments and said to them, “Your blood be on your own heads! I am innocent. From now on I will go to the Gentiles.”

Thoughts: The Gospel of Jesus Christ is offensive. The Gospel tells us that nothing we can do can get us to Heaven, that we are sinners, and that only through Jesus can we get to Heaven. I suspect that nobody likes being told they are not good enough. When sharing this offensive news there are bound to be those who will oppose and revile us. This is a great reminder that there are times to be a duck, in the sense that like a duck with a water drop on its back, we need to just let it roll off. Even though we are letting things go, we need to stay aware and keep our Armor on and our Sword at the ready. I have been reading/listening to fantasy novels and as these heroes get ready for battle one of the things they do is to clear their sword (if I’m remembering my term correctly) which is moving the sword in, out, and around in its scabbard a little. This is to make sure that when the time comes to pull their sword it does not get stuck. In “The Lion The Witch and The Wardrobe” Aslan tells Peter, “Never put your sword away dirty.” In the heat of or after a battle anything that was on that sword is now in the scabbard and as it dries your sword can get stuck. A sword stuck in its scabbard is little more than a club. We are also not to neglect keeping our swords clean and sharpened. Between battle and in the calms we need to keep those swords(The Word) sharpened and practice with them that when that battle comes not only do we have an effective tool but we are prepared to use it.

Prayer: Lord God, you are worthy of all praise and honor. You are the alpha and omega. I thank you for paying me any attention. I am in awe that you know me and the hairs on my head. I thank you for the provision and blessings you pour out on us. I ask that you continue to mold me and make me into the man you call me to be. Open my eyes to my faults and failures so that I can seek forgiveness and restoration. Please help me to take the steps needed to remove the impurities in my life and fill them with things of you.