Buy a Sword!

(10 March 2010)

Luke 22:36, "And He said to them, 'But now, let him who has a purse take it along, likewise also a bag, and let him who has no sword sell his robe and buy one.'" What a thing for the Prince of peace to say. Why buy a sword? Earlier He said that when He was with the disciples, they had need of nothing. But now they are in need of everything! With what would you replace Jesus? When He was with them, they needed nothing. Now He is leaving and they will need everything, even swords. Peter tried to use the sword and was rebuked, for Jesus was still with them. They never did need the purse, the bag, or the sword, for Jesus returned from the dead and they were able to live freely, for He was with them. In my own personal life, how could I replace Jesus if He were to leave me? I move in and out of countries freely. He gives me the plane tickets that I need, then so much provision. How would I replace Him? If Jesus leaves a "Christian" organization, what will it take to replace Him? How many meetings? How many fund drives? How many employees? One friend, upon being told that a church had experienced a visitation of the Lord, responded, "If He visited you, you might want to ask what made Him leave in the first place!"