tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9748383.post923063155357029089..comments2023-06-24T06:54:23.141-04:00Comments on The Chestnut Tree Cafe: The Word for Friday, January 29Jim Wetzelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07358539074647113747noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9748383.post-28891505348096346212010-02-01T12:37:37.922-05:002010-02-01T12:37:37.922-05:00I agree with you -- and I didn't mean to imply...I agree with you -- and I didn't mean to imply that, because I'm not Jesus, I'll never be called upon to follow Him in something that He did. I only meant that in the absence of a specific command from God, it isn't necessarily incumbent upon (or even possible for) every believer to do everything that Jesus did, because we're not Him. We're made in His image, and we're supposed to become as much like Him as we can, and we can trust Him to make us able to become more and more like Him as our sanctification unfolds.<br /><br />I started to write that I'm not going later in the week with WFW on a regular basis. But then I thought: don't say rash things that you can't back up. Based on the available evidence, it looks as if that's exactly what I'm doing! So, as James recommends: "if the Lord wills, then I will live, and perhaps also write a WFW post every now and then." For what it's worth, though, I still plan to aim at Wednesdays! :-)Jim Wetzelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07358539074647113747noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9748383.post-86023814024949750792010-02-01T10:49:08.749-05:002010-02-01T10:49:08.749-05:00First, I refuse to go to Havana. I don't do c...First, I refuse to go to Havana. I don't do cigars. But I actually kind of like "The Word for Friday," as it breaks things up a little so I don't feel compelled to race all over the blogosphere in one day. 'Course, that means I might not get here on Friday, either, depending on the schedule at hand. This weekend, my granddaughter - the computer hog - was here, and we also took a trip to Barnes & Noble to use her gift cards. Then we had a birthday dinner for my son yesterday. So here I am ... on Monday.<br /><br />Anyway, this is an interesting passage, and you've obviously put some thought into it.<br /><br /><em>And that reasoning really doesn't apply to me, or to you. We are not the lamb without blemish, offered to take away the sins of all who accept the cleansing. Only He is.</em><br /><br />True enough. But there are many Christians - though, obviously not all - who are called to die as martyrs. (Rev. 6:9-11) Americans typically don't accept that as our purpose, because we far prefer to "claim His blessings."<br /><br />Like Paul, whose heart was broken when fellow believers wanted to prevent him from going to Rome to his death, I think it all depends on recognizing our individual call. Better ears to hear the Holy Spirit, and a stronger inclination to obey His voice, would benefit us all.<br /><br /><em>It seems to me that when Jesus tells the disciple to put his sword back "back into its place," that really implies that the sword has a place -- and that place is where it just came from, on the person of the disciple.</em><br /><br />I'm not going to argue this one. You may very well be right. I'll only add that having permission to carry a sword does not necessarily mean it can be used on people. It could still be intended as a Bambi or lion killer.<br /><br /><em>all those who take up the sword shall perish by the sword.</em> This is a puzzler, no doubt. Given the context, I wonder if Jesus wasn't just pointing out the benefit of relying on God and His legions of angels, instead of defending ourselves? <br /><br />Another thought is that we "perish" not physically but spiritually when we use the sword against another person. From what I hear, killing someone - regardless of how well justified it might be - changes a person. <br /><br />Then again, I've found that when something seems particularly obtuse, it's often because I'm trying to read something into it that isn't there. Sometimes Jesus meant just what He said.<br /><br />Good, thought-provoking post, my friend. I look forward to the next installment.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com