When Jesus' followers saw what was going to happen, they said, "Lord, should we strike with our swords?" And one of them struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his right ear. But Jesus answered, "No more of this!" And he touched the man's ear and healed him. -Luke 22:49-51 (The Message)

As Christians, are we called to be people who react from a defensive position or believers who move with defensive action to bring about positive change? What did Jesus do? Was he a reactionary? Was his crucifixion a reaction to sin, or a action of passion to set us free from sin? If God were to react to sin, we would be judged guilty and He would condemn us with the sin that we have committed. We observe, however, that the Lord moved with action to bring us salvation. If we neglect so great a salvation, then we can expect the results, but not because God reacted, rather that we rejected what he provided through his action of passion.

No wonder that Jesus exclaims to his reactionary servant, “No more of this!” The servant’s reactions, though justified in his own sight, were contrary to the purpose of the Lord both in nature and in result. He lifted his sword up against someone who Jesus loved and cared for, evidenced by His healing actions (even though the man was numbered among those who had come out against Jesus). The lesson we see here is that to be like Jesus is to be a person who is moved with God given purpose into the kind of action that brings positive and godly results. Yes, we may tend to react (most do) to the circumstance and attitudes of those we feel are a threat to us in some way or other, but our real call is to show forth the attributes of Him who so graciously received us unto himself through the power of His love.

I encourage you to become numbered among those who make a difference through doing good, rather than numbered among those who spend their time reacting to those who are doing badly.