Sunday, April 5, 2009

Pick up your sword

I finished Esther by Beth Moore last month. In  one of the video sessions she mentioned Deut. 33:29 and the Holy Spirit keeps bringing me back to it.

"Blessed are you, O Israel! Who is like you, a people saved by the Lord? He is your helper and your glorious sword. Your enemies will cower before you, and you will trample down their high places." 

Before hearing this session and looking closely at this scripture I have always defaulted to the verses that talk about being still and letting God fight for you. Even in Deut. there are 2 places that talk about God fighting your battles.

"The Lord your God who is going before you will fight for you as He did for you in Egypt before your very eyes" Deut. 1:30

"Do not be afraid of them, the Lord your God himself will fight for you." Deut. 3:20

I have never been one to just think my job was to sit around because God just did all the work around me and for me.  I have always believed that we must play an active role in our walk with Christ.  Please understand me when I say that. I do not mean that God needs us or that He does not just work things out for us. A great example of this is found in Philippians 2:12-13. 

"Continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling for it is God who works in  you to will and to act according to His good purposes."

The beginning tells us to "work out our salvation" implying it is something we are to do but then the next verse it says it is God who works in you to will and act according to His good purpose. So do we play an active role in it or does God just do it.  I think that it is both. We are not called to just sit on the sidelines. God desires us to play an active role. There is a fine line between complete dependance on God and complacency. 

So back to Deut.33:29.  I believe there are times that God calls us to just sit back and let Him fight for us. However, I also believe there are times that He wants us to pick up our sword and SWING IT. I believe that most of the time we choose to faulter to the Lord will do it for me because we don't understand or believe that the Holy Spirit of Jesus Christ lives in us and empowers us to do whatever we are called to do. We have no concept of what it really means that we are a child of God, an heir to the throne. " Who is like you a people saved by the Lord?"
May we not boast in our own strength but in who we are because of Christ. What are we saying to the world when we cower from our enemies? The reason I believe that at times we are called to pick up our sword and fight is found in the last part of the verse. "Your enemies will cower before you and you will trample down their high places." I have underlined the word you in my Bible because it is referring to me not Christ. I will trample down their high places. Now I won't and can't trample down their high places without Christ for "He is your shield and helper and your glorious sword" 

Lord, thank you that you not only fight for me but You also empower me to fight. I know their are battles that You want me to sit out and just watch You fight for me but Lord I also believe there are times that You want me get in the battle and swing my sword. I am a child of God and Your Spirit lives in me. Because of that I am capable and do not have to shrink back in fear. Please Lord give me wisdom to know when to be still and let you fight and when to pick up my sword. 

"Take the helmet of  salvation and the sword  of the Spirit which is the word of God. "
Ephesians 6:17


1 comment:

Teresa @ Grammy Girlfriend said...

Your blog is so pretty. I love looking at all the designs. Hope you will stop by my blog. I am a new blogger, that has a lot to learn. This is my second month in the world of BLOG. I have a great give away this month. This drawing will be the last day of April. Just leave a comment and you are in the drawing.
This NEW blogger was so touched by all the comments I received on the Blog Party (over 300). I have decided to make this a monthly GIFT... I so loved reading every comment.
In May, there will be some fun blogs coming from Disney World. I hope to blog every night, in case you like a good trip report. There will also be a Disney giveaway. I am so thankful for all my new friends.