A
grandmother traveled to Chicago
with her middle-aged daughter and when they arrived at the hotel, the elderly
woman pulled out her Bible and a pistol.
“Mama, why’d
you bring that?” the daughter was shocked that her mother came packing heat.
“I figured
if one doesn’t work, the other one will.”
While I
greatly admire her spunk, for spiritual battles you can’t bring a gun to a
swordfight. You can only bring a sword and the one God has provided is His
word. In Ephesians 6:17, Paul calls Scripture the “sword of the spirit.” In
Hebrews 4:12, he tells us it is “living and active. Sharper than any
double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and
marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.”
But like
all swords, ours can become rusty with disuse so it’s very important to keep
your sword sharp and in good repair. How do you do it? “Do your best to present
yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and
who correctly handles the word of truth.” (2 Timothy 2:15) The more Scripture you know and understand,
the sharper your sword. It’s a good idea to take a Bible with you often and to
even keep cards or notes with verses on them in your car and purse or wallet.
But ultimately, you need Scripture written in a place where it can’t be lost or
destroyed—you need it written on your heart.
“This is
the covenant I will make with the house of Israel
after that time," declares the LORD. “I will put my law in their minds and
write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people.”
Jeremiah 31:33
“I’ve
hidden Your word in my heart that I might not sin against You.” (Psalm 119:11)
When you
hide God’s word in your heart, it can’t be taken from you and the Holy Spirit
will bring it to mind at just the time you need it. Don’t be discouraged,
though, if it’s been a while since you’ve picked up your sword and it’s sitting
in a corner rusty and dusty. You can start today to sharpen your sword, even if
you simply go back to basics to John 3:16: “For God
so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in
Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” There’s really no better
place to start.
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